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Jessie Keith
Cucurbitaceae
CUCURBITA pepo 'Zephyr'
Summer Squash
The distinctively patterned, yellow and green fruits of this F1 hybrid squash are also notable for their firm texture and delicious nutty flavor. The slender, club-shaped fruits are mostly yellow, but each has a pale green tip that appears "hand-dipped." This productive variety forms big, bushy, open plants which grow from seed to harvest in about 54 days. The fruits are best when 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) long, and will be produced from summer to fall if regularly harvested.
Like most summer squash, 'Zephyr' descends from the New World species Cucurbita pepo. These warm-season annuals are monoecious, meaning single plants bear separate male and female flowers. The large, yellow, funnel shaped male blossoms are generally produced first, followed by the fruit-producing female flowers, which are distinguished by bulbous ovaries at the bases. Following pollination by bees, these develop into fruits, which are often obscured by the large, coarse, heart-shaped or deeply lobed foliage.
Plant summer squash in full sun and deep, rich, well-drained loam when the soil has warmed and all danger of frost has passed. Regular water is essential, but the plants will not tolerate soggy conditions or wet feet. Where drainage is not optimal, it is advisable to plant them in raised mounds of fertile, porous soil. Watch closely for squash bugs, cucumber beetles and vine borers at the base of the stems. Older plants are often susceptible to powdery mildew. Yearly crop rotation and removal of dead plant debris at the end of the growing season can help to minimize insect and disease problems.
12 - 1
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Vegetable
Full Sun
18"-30" / 45.7cm - 76.2cm
3'-5' / 0.9m - 1.5m
Indeterminate
North America, Mexico, Central America
Neutral
Well Drained
Loam, Sand
Very Fast
Average Water
Clump-Forming
Summer, Fall
Showy
Yellow, Gold, Dark Green
Lemon Yellow, Light Green
Bicolor
Green, Dark Green
Yes
No
Single
Coarse
Matte
Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Vine
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