End of Year Report

by Eve Cuny-Hanson

Preparation | Year in photos | Squash varieties

Members of the McClellan Ranch Master Gardener project team selected thirty varieties of summer squash for trial. Varieties for trial were selected to represent the breadth of color, shape, and growth habit available to the home gardener. A review of home gardening seed catalogs was conducted to select the varieties. These varieties were evaluated for ease of harvest, relation of fruit to leaves, and plant size or growth habit.

Two of each variety were direct seeded, and yield, (pounds, count and size) for each variety was recorded. Dates of elapsed days between seeding and germination and date of First fruit were recorded. The beds were seeded in varying degrees of plant density to demonstrate plant spacing options available to the home gardener. Beds of approximately 15 feet long by 4 feet wide were planted in density ranging from 4 plants to 12 plants in a bed. Total yield for the garden was approximately 2100 pounds. About 1800 pounds were donated to Santa Clara County Food Banks.

Various pest problems encountered were heavy cucumber beetle infestation, gopher activity, and sightings of squash bugs. All insect control was performed organically or with barrier or cultivation methods. Gophers were controlled with regular use of traps. Observation of powdery mildew was made at the close of the season, with notation made of the degree of infestation. No controls for powdery mildew were employed.

Information was made available to the public by demonstration at 2 local farmers markets and at the public field day at McClellan Ranch. Tasting of squash was available at the field day and members of the public evaluated the squash for taste and texture. It is estimated that farmer's market demonstration and the field day participation totaled approximately 200 individuals. Articles about the project appeared in the San Jose Mercury News, the San Francisco Chronicle and various local newspapers such as the Cupertino Courier.

Variety Selection and Criteria

A review of past projects was conducted and summer squash was nominated as the trial vegetable for summer 2003. This was the first trial of this vegetable at McClellan Ranch. A primary objective of projects conducted at McClellan Ranch, by Master Gardeners has been to demonstrate the breadth of varieties of a vegetable available to the home gardener, and to document the cultivation techniques required to grow these varieties. A public field day is held at harvest time to present varieties grown and allow tasting, so gardeners have the opportunity to make discerning choices for their home gardens. In keeping with this objective, 30 varieties were selected for this trial. These varieties represented the breadth of color, shape, and size of summer squash varieties, as well as representing selections native to Mexico, Europe and Asia.

Additional criteria were used for selection as well. Summer squash plants are known for their size and home gardeners are often limited in planting space. In response to this need, varieties were selected that represented differences in growth habit, which was characterized by compact, intermediate or vine like. Another aspect of summer squash cultivation is harvesting. Gardeners often complain of irritating spines on plant stalks, which make harvesting squash unpleasant. In response, several varieties, such as "Spineless Beauty "were chosen for evaluation.

Team members made selections, by review of seed catalogs. Catalogs used for the final selection were: " J.L Hudson, Seedsman", "The Cook's Garden", "Territorial Seed Company", "J.W. Jung Seed Co.", "Seeds from Italy", "Nichols Garden Nursery", "Bountiful Gardens", and "Seeds of Change." A complete table of addresses for these seed companies is listed in the appendix. Seeds for two varieties were obtained from private sources; the "Jean Lee" summer squash was obtained from team member, Jean Lee from her heritage Chinese garden and "Potimarron" was obtained from Master Gardener Susan Bouchez on her international travels in France.

Garden Plot Plan

Thirty varieties of summer squash meant the plot had to be designed to facilitate harvesting of the fruit and evaluation of the squash plants. A haphazard planting scheme might have made determining one variety of squash from another difficult. To facilitate data collection, varieties that were different in shape or color were planted next to one another, to help avoid confusion at harvest time. In addition, the garden was designed to demonstrate a variety of planting density-from ample home gardener spacing to dense commercial spacing- in beds ranging from 4 plants, to 6, 8 and 10, and 12 plants. All beds were approximately 15 feet long, by 4 feet wide with two-foot wide paths between beds. Some beds had trellises at the end of them to support the vining varieties. A diagram of the garden planting scheme is presented in the appendix.

Site Description

The McClellan Ranch Master garden plot is located in the Cupertino Community garden in McClellan Ranch Park at 22221 McClellan Road. Cupertino Community garden is an organic garden, requiring no chemical fertilizers or pest control measures be used. The community garden is bordered on one side by open space preserve and the other by various original out buildings that house community organizations such as 4-H and Audubon society. The land is the flood plain for Stevens Creek, which flows year round, winding along the perimeter of the park. The Master Gardener plot, donated by the City of Cupertino, is approximately 20 x 54 feet. The soil in the plot is a combination of silt and topsoil washed into the flood plain throughout geologic time and rich Santa Clara Valley soil. The result is a significant rich and friable soil that requires little difficult digging and holds moisture well. The plot receives full sun.

Plot Preparation

In late October 2002, a cover crop of vetch, bell bean and fava bean was direct seeded into the garden. Soybean meal was added to the soil at the time of planting to help replenish nitrogen in the soil. The cover crop seeds were immediately covered with row cover, to prevent the ample bird population from devouring all the newly planted seeds. The beds were watered regularly, starting at every day and then tapering off as seeds germinated and fall and winter rains eliminated the requirement for hand watering. Once the plants themselves were established (about 1 foot high), the row cover was removed. Team members monitored gopher activity and set traps for control.

By the end of February the bean crop was approximately 70% percent in bloom, an indicator that the nitrogen fixing properties of the cover crop was accomplished. On March 1st, project members met to cut down the cover crop. The crop was cut to approximately 4 inch pieces and then goat manure and bedding straw, obtained from the local 4-H goat farm, was layered on the beds. This was lightly watered and left to compost for 4 weeks. It was checked periodically for moisture and watered as required to maintain mildly damp moisture content, enough to continue the composting process.

Cover Crop

During the first week of April, team members met and rototilled the garden in preparation for planting. The newly rototilled plot was left to "rest" for a period of six weeks, in order to avoid compaction of the newly tilled soil and to allow both soil and air temperatures to warm to optimal planting ranges.

Planting

The team decision was to direct seed the squash seeds. It was believed that a majority of home gardeners would direct seed, especially since most of the varieties in the trial were not available from local nurseries as seedlings. On the planting day, we also seeded in 4" pots, for purposes of necessary replacements in the garden, our McClellan Ranch plant sale and "extras" for team member's home gardens. Our original seeding date was set for April 19th, but we delayed for a month, due to cool soil temperature, (58 degrees). On May 16th, we measured the soil temperature at 90 degrees, a temperature in the optimal soil temperature range for seed germination of summer squash. The California Master Gardener Handbook cites the minimum temperature for seed germination of summer squash at 60 degrees Fahrenheit and the optimal range from 85 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. We planted three seeds in for each variety, with the exception of the Space Miser variety which we planted very densely at 12 seed 10 inches apart. A tablespoon of soybean meal was added to the soil with each seed. Row covers were placed immediately on the seeded rows.

Thinning

On June 7th plants were thinned to two of each variety. Thinning was delayed as long as possible; because of aggressive gopher activity and the cucumber beetle infestation experienced at McClellan Ranch garden each spring. A delay increased the chances of having two of each variety survive the pest onslaught at McClellan.

Irrigation

Upon seeding, the beds were watered through the row cover every day. On hot days, the beds were watered two times a day, to prevent drying out. This phase of watering was done overhead with a watering wand. Soaker hoses were installed in the center of the beds once the row cover was removed (approximately mid-June). Watering decreased slowly from 3- 4 times a week, to 2 times a week as the plants grew and were able to shade the soil. Soaker hoses were chosen as the irrigation method to keep moisture off the leaves, and prevent the start of powdery mildew.

Best to Worst Taste

1. Zapallo Del Tranco
2. White Bush Marro
3. Grise de Algiers
4. Tromba d'Albenga
5. Fancy Crook
6. Papaya Pear
7. Tondo di Piacenza
8. Lebanese Light Green
9. White Bush Scallop
10. Black Beauty
11. Sunburst
12. French white
13. Elite
14. Ronde de Nice
15. Trombocini
16. Potimarron
17. Verde d'Italia
18. Space Miser
19. Jean Lee
20. Straito d'Italia
21. Aristocrat
22. Egyptian White
23. Italiano Largo
24. Starship
25. Spineless Beauty
26. Horn of Plenty

Texture Ranking Best to Worst

1. White Bush Marrow
2. Elite
3. Black Beauty
4. Potimarron
5. Papaya Pear
6. Fancy Crook
7. Lebanese Light Green
8. Grise de Algiers
9. French White
10. Straito d'Italia
11. Zapallo del Tranco
12. Tromba d'Albenga
13. Trombocino
14. Aristocrat
15. Horn of Plenty
16. Italiano Largo
17. Verde d'Italia
18. White Bush Scallop
19. Jean Lee
20. Space Miser
21. Tondo di Piacenza
22. Sunburst
23. Egyptian White
24. Spineless Beauty
25. Starship
26. Ronde De Nice

Conclusions

The summer squash project met its objective in presenting a wide variety of summer squash suitable for the home gardener in the south bay. Most plants performed well, with short germination times, with enough productivity for a home garden, and similar length of harvest. Our exceptions were Space Miser for poor germination and our Cucuzzi squashes: for poor yields, (Langenaria Longissma and Cucuzzi Caravazzi). Powdery mildew for all plants was not a problem, until very late in the growing season. There was no mosaic virus evidenced in any of our plants. The colors and shapes grown demonstrate the breadth of squash varieties available, giving the home gardener ample choice for growing an interesting array of summer squash, with choices for small space gardeners, gardener cooks and those with specific pest and disease challenges.

Recommendations

By a review of the data we can make recommendations for specific garden conditions:

• For small space gardens, we recommend the trellis varieties Tromba d'Albenga and Trombocino. Two plants can be planted on a sturdy trellis of 8 feet by at least 3 feet in width (4 to 6 would be better), they are light to moderate producers, leaving the home gardener with substantial produce for home use. The Tromba d' Albenga is fairly resistant to powdery mildew, being a plant mildly affected in our plot. Another trellis variety, Zapallo del Tronco, was an outstanding producer, again needing the trellis mentioned above. One plant in a garden of this variety, however, would be more than sufficient. The two plants in our garden yielded 217 fruit. This variety has the added attraction of being one of four varieties that were least affected by powdery mildew, and was ranked our best tasting squash. A combination of these trellis varieties planted in a home garden would not only produce significant amounts of squash, but their vines could have a decorative effect as well. The fruits themselves are decorative, the Tromba d'Albenga being long, curved and light green, the Trombocino, pale yellow green, and the Zapallo del Tronco, a dark green, small pumpkin shape, with nice ribbing.
• For home gardeners who like yellow crookneck varieties, we recommend the Fancy Crook. This was our top producer, with over a hundred squash produced in our growing season. (2 plants). This squash is smooth skinned and has variation in the yellow, making an irregular pattern in shades of yellow. It is an attractive alternative to
• Commercially grown varieties, significantly productive and was ranked better in taste and texture when compared to the Horn of Plenty Crookneck variety we grew.
• For home gardeners that struggle with infestations of powdery mildew, we can recommend the Elite Hybrid, Verde de Italia, and Zapallo Tranco; all were ranked as least affected by powdery mildew. The Elite Hybrid would be suitable for small space gardens as its growth habit is rated as compact. It is also a heavy producer; so one plant would be suitable for the home garden. It is scratchy though, so gardeners whose priority is short sleeve picking might find this one unacceptable. The Verde de Italia is a nice alternative to a green zucchini and moderate producer. It is ranked as scratchy, so don't grow this if sleeveless picking is a priority.
• Gardeners with less than full sun and overhead watering should avoid these varieties: Tondo de Piacenza, Jean Lee, and Starship. As the plants began their decline, these varieties were severely and quickly affected by powdery mildew. Because of their rapid demise, we suspect powdery mildew would be difficult to control.
• For gardeners that want scratch less picking, and a plant suitable for a smaller space, our recommendation is the Spineless Beauty. It was the only Curbita Pepo ranked as a zero in the ease of picking. For basic zucchini enthusiasts, with ease of picking, this is your choice.
• For cooks, we recommend these 3 top picks in our tasting sample: Zapallo del Tranco, White Bush Marrow and Grise del Algiers. Team member Ann Ranish, an avid cook, makes these recommendations about cooking several of the varieties of summer squash:
• Italiano Largo: "Excellent for grilling, frying, and other cooking applications where it is important to retain shape." " Moderately oversized fruit of this variety are still edible, since it keeps its fine grain and almost crispy texture."
• Sunburst and Fancy Crook- " Nice for dishes where color contrast is desired, because the bright yellow color is retained when steaming."
• Tromboncino and Tromba de Albenga ‹ " Good for cooking in chunks in a stew, because only the very tip has seeds and the flesh stays firm."
• Eight Ball, Ronde de Nice and Tondo di Placenza- "These are delicious sliced, sauted or fried".
• For gardeners looking for a summer squash garden with unusual shapes and color, and a passion for summer squash we recommend our "rainbow" assortment: Papaya Pear, (yellow pair shape), Ronde de Nice (pale green round), Verde d'Italia , (ridged, stripped cylinder) and Starship (scallop shape).
• For preservation of summer squash team member Fran Grabau recommends drying squash. Using a dehydrator or oven drying technique and sliced about ¼ thick, summer squash can be used as snack or a delicious addition to soups.
• For gardeners wanting a zucchini with a twist, we recommend one of our ridged and stripped zucchinis: Italiano Largo, and Verde d' Italia.
• For gardeners short on space, who want to grow mini-pumpkins and summer squash, we recommend the Potimarron and Zapallo del Tranco, both are pumpkins eaten in their native lands as tender summer squash and they can be left on the vine to ripen to a pumpkin. Team member, Ann Ranish, reports the summer squash Potimarron, as a delicious winter squash when left on the vine and allowed to fully mature
• For those squash which remain hidden and grow much too large to eat team member Penny Cheney recommends using the squash as a floral container. Hollow out a portion of the squash, insert floral foam and arrange flowers, and when flowers are spent, remove the foam and compost the flowers and the "container".