Territorial Seed Company Squash Summer Black Beauty, 3 g

    4.35 4.35 4.3500000000000005 USD

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    Cucurbita pepo 60 days. A great improvement over the old Black Zucchini. The 3–4 foot open bushes let you see the fruit before it becomes giant-sized. Best eaten when 6–8 inches long, the fruit is cylindrical, smooth, dark green, and straight. For a treat, dip blossoms in a beer batter and deep-fry. 

    Cucurbita spp. In the diverse family of squash are true nutritional powerhouses, encompassing a wide array of forms, flavors, colorations, and culinary applications. Squash are rich in the carotenoids necessary for vitamin A production and boast a wide complement of amino acids. While starchy, most of the carbohydrates in the fruit come from special polysaccharides, pectins, which have exhibited strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic, insulin-regulating properties.

    Days to maturity are from date of direct seeding.

    Culture

    • Fertile, well-drained soil gives best results
    • Squash is a warm season crop, avoid planting too early; raised beds and plastic mulch help keep roots warm
    • Squash are monoecious (bearing separate male and female flowers on the same plant) and require insect pollination
    • Poor fruit set is often the result of inadequate pollination; plant bee attractant flowers

    Direct Sowing
    • Plant after frost danger when soil warms to 65°F
    • Work in shovelful of compost and 1/2 cup TSC's Complete fertilizer into hill
    • Keep soil evenly moist but not wet as too much moisture causes seed to rot
    • Bush varieties: sow 3-4 feet apart
    • Vining varieties: sow 4-6 feet apart

    Transplanting

    • Start indoors 3-4 weeks prior to anticipated transplant date in 4 inch pots
    • Work in shovelful of compost and 1/2 cup TSC's Complete fertilizer into hill
    • Transplant carefully as to not disturb roots

    Insects & Diseases

    • Common insects: Spotted and striped cucumber beetles, vine borers and squash bugs
    • Insect control: Row covers and/or apply Pyrethrin
    • Moschata species are resistant to vine borer
    • Common diseases: See chart below; diseases vary by region
    • Disease prevention: 3-4 year crop rotation, and fungicide applications

    Harvest & Storage

    • Summer squash: Harvest regularly when fruits are young to keep plants productive
    • Winter squash: Leave on vine until fully mature, rinds should be firm
    • When winter squash is mature cut stem leaving 2-4 inches remaining, gently wash in sanitizing solution; 10 parts water to 1 part bleach
    • For best results move winter squash to a warm dry area 80-90°F to cure; see each type (below) for curing requirements
    • Store winter squash at 50-60°F with 50-75% relative humidity and good air circulation

    Curing Requirements
    • Acorn: Curing not required; Stores 2-3 months
    • Buttercup: Cure 10-14 days; Store 1-2 months for best flavor; Will keep 4-6 months
    • Butternut: Cure 10-14 days; Store 1-2 months for best flavor; Will keep 4-6 months
    • Delicata: Curing not required; Stores 2-3 months
    • Hubbard: Cure 10-14 days; Store 1-2 months for best flavor; Will keep 4-6 months
    • Kabocha: Cure 10–14 days; Store 1–2 months for best flavor; Will keep 4–6 months
    • Mini-Hubbard: Curing not required; Stores 2-3 months
    • Spaghetti: Curing not required; Stores 2-3 months

    Approximate seeds per gram
    • Acorn, Butternut, & Delicata: 9-16
    • Buttercup & Hubbard: 3-7
    • Green, Gray Summer: 7–9
    • Kabocha: 5–7
    • Patty Pan: 7-10
    • Romanesco: 4–5
    • Spaghetti: 4-7
    • Yellow Summer: 7-15
    • Zucchini: 5-8

    KEY TO SQUASH DISEASE RESISTANCE AND TOLERANCE

    HR indicates high resistance.
    IR indicates intermediate resistance.
    CMV | Cucumber Mosaic Virus
    PM | Powdery Mildew
    PRV | Papaya Ringspot Virus
    SLCV | Squash Leaf Curl Virus
    WMV* | Watermelon Mosaic Virus
    ZYMV | Zucchini Yellow Mosaic Virus
    * Numbers indicate specific disease race.