Growing Squash

Overview

Squash is an easily grown vegetable if you have three things: sunshine, richly composted soil and lots of room for it to grow. The two basic types of squash, summer and winter, are both grown in the same manner; the difference is the length of time needed to harvest. Summer squash set fruit alongside zucchini and winter squash aren't ready to harvest until late in the fall.

Preparing the Ground

Step 1

Dump or fork the compost into mounds where you will be planting the squash seeds or seedlings. Break up any clumps with the hoe. The mounds should be 2 feet apart for summer squash and 4 feet apart for winter squash.

Step 2

Make a small bowl in the top of the mound and place 5-8 seeds a few inches apart in the bowl. Cover the seeds with an inch of compost and water each mound. Do not let the seeds go more than 48 hours without rewatering. Once they germinate, keep them watered when it doesn't rain for a day or so. Once they start to vine, the leaves will wilt when they need water; water them deeply to encourage good root growth.

Step 3

Harvest summer squash when they reach the size you determine. The vines of winter squash will go everywhere, and as long as the roots are getting water you can let them grow along a rockwall or anywhere you wish. Harvest them beginning in late August, or continue to let them grow.