Picking the Perfect Summer Squash
Summer squash plants can be incredibly productive, providing you with a steady supply of squash throughout the season. Knowing the right time to pick your summer squash is essential to ensure a bountiful harvest and keep your plants healthy.
When determining if a squash is ready to be picked, look for a firm texture and a size between 3 to 10 inches, depending on the variety. A good test is to try to nick the skin with your fingernail – if it's easy to pierce, the squash is ready.
It's important to maintain good hygiene practices while harvesting to prevent diseases from spreading. Avoid picking squash from wet plants, as moisture can facilitate the transmission of diseases. Use clean shears to harvest the squash and leave at least an inch of the vine attached to the fruit to prolong its shelf life.
Summer squash comes in many shapes and sizes. Some are long and slender while others are short and squatty. They can be curvy, straight, spherical, or shaped like a spinning top. You'll need to research your squash variety to know when to pick it, otherwise, you might let it get too mature while you wait for it to get bigger.
Most types of squash are ready to harvest 40-50 days after planting. Patty Pan squash, the short and round kind, is typically ready when it's 3-4 inches in diameter. Because these are so short, you'll need to watch the width rather than length. Long varieties like crookneck squash should be 6-8 inches long. Ideally, they should be 2 inches in diameter. Some longer varieties like zucchini can get up to 10 inches long and still be a good size for harvesting. If you're ever unsure when to harvest, it's always better to get them when they're on the smaller side.
Growing winter and summer squash have distinct differences, one being that summer squash is harvested early while it's still tender and growing. Allowing the squash to fully mature will result in decreased production and tough, inedible fruit. To determine the right time for harvest, consider both the size and tenderness of the squash. A ripe squash should have skin that can be pierced with minimal effort using your fingernail. Once it reaches this stage, it's ready to be picked and enjoyed.
If the skin is too tough to puncture, the squash is overripe. Remove it from the plant promptly to prevent a decline in production. While overly mature squash may still be used in certain recipes like baked goods or stuffed dishes, the tough texture could make it challenging to consume, especially if the seeds have hardened.
