How to Plant Summer Squash

Overview

Summer squash is one of the fresh produce treats of the summer season. Summer squash includes several varieties, including zucchini, patty pan, crookneck, gourmet globe and straightneck. No matter what variety of summer squash you decide to plant, you can plant them as seeds sown directly into the ground, or as seedlings that you have begun indoors ahead of the planting season. Whether seeds or seedlings, planting summer squash in your garden is a low-effort process that yields high rewards.

Plant Squash From Seed

Step 1

Dig the dirt in the garden and pile it into small hills that are 48 inches apart.

Step 2

Put four or five seeds around the top of each hill and cover with 1 inch of dirt.

Step 3

Water the hills with a garden hose set on the "sprinkler" setting.

Step 4

Thin the squash plants to two or three plants per hill when they are 2 to 3 inches tall or they have one to two true leaves on the stems.

Plant Squash From Seedlings

Step 1

Sow two to three seeds in peat pellets set in a seed tray. The seeds should be started indoors six weeks before the last expected frost in your area.

Step 2

Place the seedlings outside to harden off for three days before planting them into the hills you have prepared for them.

Step 3

Thin the seedlings to the strongest two seedlings in the pellets, and then plant the seedlings, pellets and all, into the hills. Plant two seedling pellets per hill, and plant them at the same depth as the pellet they are in.