Fresh summer squash can be a refreshing side dish.
Three types of squash are easily grown in Louisiana in the summer. Squash requires warm days, rich soil and plenty of water, all of which qualify Louisiana as a good place to raise squash. Summer squash, winter squash and pumpkins can provide plenty of food for the dinner table or to share with family and friends. Winter squash and pumpkins keep in a cool, dark place quite well, but summer squash needs to be eaten shortly after harvesting. Does this Spark an idea?
Summer Squash
Zucchini, patty pans, yellow straight-neck and yellow crookneck grow well in Louisiana. The flowers and the fruit are edible. The fruit are best consumed young. As these squash continue to grow on the vine, they develop tough tissue and the seeds can harden. Cooking summer squash is easy in stir-fries, adding to salads or shredding to add to quick breads. The water content in summer squash is high and some people squeeze the raw, shredded squash to intensify the flavor.
Winter Squash
All winter squash requires a long, warm growing season. The varieties to grow in Louisiana include butternut, banana, acorn, turbine, Hubbard, Boston marrow and delicious. The squash are typically harvested after the first frost when the skins are tough and the bottom of the squash has turned color. Leaving at least a 2-inch stem on the squash lengthens its shelf life. Baking, steaming or boiling these squash produces a flavorful puree rich in vitamin A.
Pumpkins
Two types of pumpkins grow in Louisiana, including giant pumpkins and small pumpkins good for making pies, soup or pumpkin bread. Gardeners often remove all but two pumpkin flowers from the vine and choose the best-looking fruit to leave on the vine as the fruit matures. The plant puts all its energy into growing a large pumpkin. Small pumpkin varieties are best for cooking, since the flesh is less stringy and watery. Like squash, pumpkin can be baked or steamed.
Cultivation
Squash grows well in soils rich in organic matter. Gardeners typically plant the seeds in raised hills that help the water drain away from the leaves of the squash plants, an issue in Louisiana where humidity in the summer is high and fungal diseases can develop. Ground watering is better than overhead sprinkling. Squash needs a balanced fertilizer as it grows, making sure the nitrogen content is not excessively high, since nitrogen promotes leaf development, but not flower development or fruit maturation.
Tags: grow Louisiana, squash pumpkins, summer squash, these squash