Squash is any of more than 40 kinds of gourd-shaped vegetables. The word squash refers both to the entire plant and to the fruit, which is the part that most people eat. In some regions, squash flowers are fried and eaten. Squashes are closely related to pumpkins. Many plants called pumpkins are actually squashes.
Squashes are highly nutritious. They provide large amounts of vitamins A and C and are low in calories. These vegetables can be cooked in many ways, and one type, zucchini, is often served raw in salads. Some cooks substitute the stringy pulp of the vegetable spaghetti squash for spaghetti in low-calorie dishes.
Squashes are native to the Western Hemisphere. Indians introduced them to the first European explorers who reached the New World. The name comes from askutasquash, a Narragansett Indian word meaning eaten uncooked. Squashes grow on bushes and vines. The plants have large five-pointed leaves and yellow-orange flowers. Their fruits have many different colors, shapes, sizes, tastes, and textures. The two major groups of squashes are summer squashes and winter squashes.
Summer squashes
grow on bushes. The fruit is picked when it is immature and has a soft rind. If a squash grows too large and ripe, it loses some flavor. Summer squashes should be eaten as soon as possible after harvesting. Common types of summer squashes include cocozelle, pattypan, white scallop, yellow crookneck, and zucchini.
Winter squashes
grow on vines or bushes. They are frequently not picked until several days before the first freeze. At this time, the fruit is fully ripe and has a hard rind. Winter squashes can be stored for several months in a cool, dry place. Some canned “pumpkin” filling for pumpkin pie actually consists of one or more kinds of winter squashes. Popular winter varieties include acorn, banana, butternut, Hubbard, and vegetable spaghetti.
Growing squashes.
Squash plants thrive in any region that has a warm growing season. The seeds should be planted in mounds of rich, well-drained soil. Summer squashes can be harvested in about two months. Winter squashes mature in three or four months.
Squash plants are attacked by several kinds of insects, including cucumber beetles, squash bugs, and squash vine borers. These pests can be controlled with insecticides or by picking them off the plants.
The leading squash-producing states are California, Florida, New Jersey, New York, and Texas. Squash is also popular with home vegetable gardeners.
