squashes

2013-2017

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a. growing summer squash at home

2013-2017

Summer squashes / zucchinis are easy to grow and they do well in the desert summer heat as long as they are watered generously. They are abundant producers, a few plants were more than we could handle with only two for dinner.

I have not bothered with winter squashes. They grow more like melons, vining along the ground instead of growing bushy like the zucchinis.

Directions

Pic2: 2017-05-07 — zucchini seedlings in pots
Pic3: 2017-05-26 — planted
Pic4: 2017-07-06 — summer squashes are large plants

Pic5: 2013-07-16 — large squash plant
Pic6: squash flower with pollinator flies
Pic7: a growing zucchini

Pic8: yellow straightneck zucchini, Japanese eggplant
Pic9: 'black beauty' green zucchini
Pi10: squash bugs on a grey zucchini

I usually start zucchinis in pots instead of directly in the ground. That way it is easier to control what goes where after I see what actually is growing.
Plant at 2-3 ft. distance. Zucchinis are large bushy plants that need lots of space. It is also easier to see growing fruits when the plants are more open.
Two or three plants are more than enough for 2 people.
Harvest the fruits while still small, about 8-10" max.
They can get a lot bigger, but the flavor suffers when the seeds start developing.
Leave one of each variety to fully develop for seeds for next year.

b. zucchinis in the kitchen

Most of my zucchini harvest ends up in soups or stews. My favorite is the grey aka Mexican zucchini, but I like the yellow and green ones too.

It is possible to eat young zucchini squash raw, but I have never tried it.

INGREDIENTS

This is what you need for 2 servings:

2-4 small zucchinis
or 1 large one

Pic1: 2017-07-20 — summer harvest

Directions

Follow the links to these recipes for more details:

c. winter squash in the kitchen

I've never grown winter squash in my garden, but I occasionally do buy one in the store. I've cooked acorn, butternut and spaghetti squash, and of course pumpkins too. Most of them end up as soup, a very few as side dish. I don't bother with pumpkin pie.

Follow the links to these recipes for more details:

See also: Deming, NM gardens, animals and more and avemariasongs.org

See also: Deming, NM gardens, animals and more
and avemariasongs.org