Summer Squash - what to buy?

[gillian62]

I am wanting to grow some summer squash this year, but some gardeners feel that it isn't worth the effort.

Can you recommend a variety that be good to grow please?

[realfood]

Are you talking about courgettes?

[COMPOST CORNER]

I grew patty pan last year, but won't be bothering again, they weren't nearly as tasty or versatile as courgettes IMHO.
I know this isn't exactly a reccomendation, more of a warning based purely on opinion.
They did grow very well however.
Yellow courgettes are good in salads

[allaboutliverpool]

I tend to agree with rooster.

I have tried patty-pan type and various varieties of courgette but have come to the conclusion that simple courgettes are the best.

The difference in taste, in the opinion of me, and an expert (my wife) does not warrant the space taken up by several varieties when 2 courgette plants will provide all that is needed for a family of four.

Courgettes, Butternut squash, and a dumpling type which has the taste and consistency of chestnuts is all that is required.

If you want fun, grow 50 varieties and hope you have space for beans etc.

See my web page about squashes

Allaboutallotments Growing Butternut Squash

[taff]

I grew tromboncino last year,mostly because I loved the look of them.
The flesh was denser than a courgette,not as dense as pattypan, about as dense as crook neck squash (little ones).
Iwasn't fussed on the taste/texture ,I prefer proper squash/pumpkin.[by proper I mean dense, sweet flesh]
It will depend on what kind of flavour you're after.
Courgettes all the way for me.[better for freezing for soups too]

[zazen999]

Crookneck for me, I still had them ok to use up until christmas.

[gojiberry]

Grew a few summer squash last year, and they did fine but took up a lot of space, which I haven't got this year so am sticking with courgette and a pumpkin. Can't remember the name of the pumpkin but it is one of the new smaller type that have fruit about the size of grapefruit.

Ian

[Dane End Dolly]

I am growing 2 yellow courgettes, 2 green courgettes & a yellow pattypan and that should keep the 2 of us in courgettes for the year

[Pumpkin Becki]

I've tried to grow patty pan two years in a row, and failed miserably.

This year I've decided to have a bash at 'Serpenta de Sicilia' and 'Tromba d'Albenga' which look absolutely crazy, and will be entertaining to grow as well as eat.

I love curcubits!!!

[WeeGarden]

I grow Tromba d'albenga for vertical gardening to save on space, and a yellow courgette - Jemmer F1, and a green courgette (any old one). This year, I'll grow the patty pan that came free with GYO mag in April issue too.

[marathon]

Crookneck for me, I still had them ok to use up until christmas.

mee too - this will be my first year growing them but I've heard so much postive feedback about crookneck I've also tasted some and find them to have a nice nutty taste, and for me nicer than courgett. I'm going to try growing them.

My plan is to grow less courgette plants and a couple of crookneck plus my winter squash.

[gillian62]

Summer squash

I'd never thought of courgettes as summer squash.
I'm already planning to grow green and yellow courgettes, I've bought the seeds.
I may try the crookneck squashes.
I've got butternut squash and sweet dumpling for the winter crops.
Thank you.

[smallblueplanet]

Taste is personal, but I like the 'crookneck' summer squashes, patty pans & tromba d'albenga - they taste different to courgettes, but they tend to need slightly warmer growing conditions and so often their yield is less (or sometimes non-existent).

This year I will begrowing lots of summer squash and some courgettes.