A Quick and Easy Squash Recipe

Summer Squash Varieties

In the garden, Travis has a second succession planting of the patty-pan variety of summer squash. The Sunburst squash is a productive hybrid variety that contains a bright yellow color with scalloped edges. The other patty-pan squash is an heirloom variety known as Bennings Green Tint. Instead of a yellow, this variety is a lighter green color with scalloped edges. Other than patty-pan squash we also have an Eight Ball and Goldprize Squash variety. The Eight Ball is a hybrid variety that produces round fruits with a great flavor profile and texture. The Goldprize is a highly productive variety that produces straightneck yellow squash that has excellent disease resistance. Along with squash, we offer a Golden Delight and Spineless Beauty Zucchini variety. The Gold Delight Zucchini variety also contains a disease resistance that allows for an increase in productivity and longer harvesting windows. While the Spineless Beauty Zucchini is easy to harvest due to the spineless petioles which means no itching sensation when harvesting in the vegetable garden. Like squash, zucchini varieties have multiple harvestings throughout the growing season in the vegetable garden.

Planting Summer Squash

When planting summer squash they typically take 50 days to mature in the vegetable garden. The best way to plant summer squash is by transplant or direct-seeded. However, we highly recommend direct-seeding because of seed size variations. In order to direct seed in the vegetable garden, we prefer planting seeds 12 inches apart along the row. Once the squash plants start to emerge we thin plants to one every two feet to allow for more growing space. Since summer squash is susceptible to downy mildew and powdery mildew we recommend using drip irrigation to help these disease pressures. Adding drip tape will not only help reduce plant moisture but it will help with feeding the plants more effectively in the vegetable garden. Using a fungicide like Liquid Copper will help reduce disease pressures during heavy rainfalls and excessive moisture. When harvesting summer squash you are able to get multiple harvests throughout the growing season. Harvesting every two to three days ensures that the fruits are a perfect size and flavorful. After harvesting, summer squash should be removed to prevent fungal spores from overwintering and causing serious problems in the future growing seasons. Also, great crop rotation of all squash varieties is important to reduce pest and disease pressures in the vegetable garden.

Cooking Patty Pan Squash

On this week's episode, Travis explains the best squash recipe to try at home for patty-pan squash, onions, and bell peppers that have been grown in the vegetable garden. Along with cooking the patty-pan squash, Travis likes to add the Texas Legend onion and bell peppers to go with the recipe to add more flavor and texture. The first step in making the easiest and quickest squash recipe is to cut up the vegetables. When cutting the patty-pan squash the best way to cut them is like cutting a pizza, so they end up like little wedges. With longer patty-pan squash, he likes to cut it in half then make the wedges. While he simply cuts the onions and bell peppers in slices. Next, once the griddle becomes hot we can add a little oil and the squash, onions, and peppers to start cooking. Then, add a little salt and pepper for seasoning. Once everything is browned up and tender they are ready to remove from the griddle and eat. This is a simple and quick squash recipe that is perfect for patty-pan squash, onions, and bell peppers that are grown in the garden.