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Photo Credit: Mary Moore

Summer squash comes in a variety of colors, like these yellow straight-neck squash and green zucchini.

Never tried summer squash? You actually probably have and didn’t even realize it. Zucchini is just one type of summer squash. This long, green beauty is popular because its plant produces a lot of vegetables, making any beginning gardener feel successful. Yellow squash is another type, but it’s got a bit more of a delicate taste. This veggie can be long and straight like a zucchini or have a curved, swanlike neck. Another variety that’s gained popularity is the patty pan squash. Shaped like a 1950s flying saucer, this veggie has a subtle taste and is often both yellow and green.

One of the best things about summer squash is that it grows very quickly – no matter what type you pick. Seeds can be sown directly into the ground, or you can start them early in pots. Just know that they’re very sensitive to frost, so be sure that the last freeze has passed before moving or planting them outside. If the forecast calls for an unexpected late frost, cover your plants with clay pots or frost-protection fabric to keep them safe and healthy.

Plant your squash seeds about 1 inch deep and water them well. Be sure to cover the area with a floating fabric to protect sprouting plants from various insects. When the plants start blooming (in about a month), uncover them to allow pollinators to fertilize the flowers. Harvest your squash while they’re still small to get the best-tasting, most-tender vegetables. (These plants quickly produce a lot, so you won’t run out anytime soon!)

To keep your summer squash plants producing all season long, protect them from predatory insects – especially the red, wasplike squash borer. This pest lays its eggs at the base of the squash plant. Once they hatch, young squash borers move into the plant and destroy it from the inside.