When is patty pan squash ready

Mulching helps keep the shallow root system cool and moist. Straw is great to use as a mulch to keep the fruits dry and clean, but any mulch will do.

Summer squash grows best at temperatures from 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Even more important is that soil temperature has reached at least 65 degrees before planting. Summer squash, including pattypans, may slow down their production in the hottest days of summer, resuming vigorous production in early fall.

Side dress with compost or with a balanced granular fertilizer every four weeks while the plants are producing flowering and fruiting. Squash plants have both male and female blossoms and they both need to be present for pollination to occur. Having multiple plants will increase the chance of pollination. Male blooms carry the pollen which needs to make its way to the female blooms. Pattypan squash, also known as scallop squash, is a lesser-known cultivar of the summer squash Cucurbita pepo , the species that also includes zucchini and crook-neck squash.

If you think you'd like to add some pattypan plants to your garden, you can start by checking out the following varieties:. These cousin vegetables are in the same Cucurbitaceae family, and they look nothing alike, nonetheless, the two seem to be interchangeable in terms of inner flesh texture and use in recipes.

Many farmer market vendors assure buyers they can substitute pattypan squash for zucchini and vice versa, but that's not always the case. Pattypan squash's skin is sometimes inedible while zucchini can always be eaten, skin and all.

But, if you harvest young pattypans, you can indeed treat them in the kitchen just like zucchini, because the skin is thin, tender, and easy to slice through. Check the days to maturity for the variety of pattypans you are growing, but most types are ready to harvest in 45 to 70 days. The fruits can start to be picked when they are about 2 inches in diameter and they will remain tender until they reach a 4-inch diameter. Each squash weighs less than 1 pound.

Check your summer squash daily, as they can reach harvest size within four days of flowering. It's advisable to wear gloves when harvesting if your hands are sensitive. Keep pattypan squash dry, unwashed, and stored up to three or four days in an open plastic or paper bag in your crisper drawer at about 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Kids are sometimes more tempted to try pattypans, because of their fun shape.

However, the odd shape of pattypan squash can confound cooks. You can avoid the whole problem of how to slice this type of squash by cooking it whole. Whole squash can be steamed over boiling water until tender, which takes about four to six minutes, depending on size. You can also roast pattypans, although they cook more evenly if you slice them in half first. Place the pieces on a baking sheet and roast on the top rack for about 10 to 15 minutes at degrees Fahrenheit until tender. You can coat with olive oil or butter and season to taste beforehand if you choose.

If you want to be brave and slice your pattypans, feel free to slice them any way you like. You can slice through the diameter, dice them into chunks or simply scoop out the cooked flesh. Pattypan squash also makes great little edible serving bowls. Browse the fantastic range of fully mature hardy perennials, shrubs, ferns, grasses and bulbs to create a spectacular garden to enjoy all year round.

Use code: GW Kick start the festive season and get in touch with your creative side with our minute online class on creating Christmas wreaths with natural materials.

The perfect seasonal addition to your garden, these low-maintenance expertly trained evergreen trees can be enjoyed for years to come. Home How to Grow plants How to grow patty pan squash. You'll get the heaviest crops when growing in a sunny, sheltered spot, but plenty of moisture and a well-fed soil are also essential.

You Will Need Patty pan squash seed 9cm pots Multi-purpose, peat-free compost A propagator or plastic bag Organic matter A bell cloche High-potash liquid feed. Step 1 Fill 9cm pots with good quality multi-purpose compost and sow two seeds per pot. Sowing patty pan seed. Forking organic matter into the soil. Planting out young patty pan plants. Most patty pan squash plants start to produce fruits about days after planting, and harvests continue for many weeks thereafter.

We grow several different patty pan squash varieties here at the farm. Here are some of our favorites:. Jaune et Verte — This crazy patty pan squash is a creamy light green with deep scallops.

Y-Star — One of the most fun types of patty pan squash, Y-Star is a bi-color. The top of the fruits are a brilliant yellow and the bottom end is lime green. Total Eclipse — This patty pan produces solid green fruits. With great flavor and high productivity, this is a staple variety on our farm.

Whether you try your hand at growing your own patty pan squash or you purchase them from our organic farm via our Farm Share Program or at the Farmers Market, patty pans lend a lot of culinary flare to the kitchen. Patty pan squash tastes much like traditional zucchini, though the texture is a bit drier. Use patty pans in any recipe that calls for zucchini.

They can also be grilled, fried, or roasted. One of our favorite ways to prepare patty pan squash is stuffed with seasoned beans, rice, and shredded chicken or pork and then roasted. Patty Pan Squash Stuffed with Corn. Fried Patty Pan Squash. Patty Pan Squash and Peach Salad.