- Germination
- 7-14 days
- Seed depth
- 1 inch
- Spacing
- 18-24 inches within rows and at least 24 inches between rows
- Sun requirements
- Full sun
- Days to harvest
- 40-60 days
- Growing zone(s)
- 3a-10b
Yellow Crookneck Squash is a popular yellow squash variety named after it's "crooked neck". A fast growing, tender, and delicious squash that's sure to be a favorite if you like squash!
While there are other varieties of crookneck squash, from my reading, it looks like all the info applies to them all. Also, a lot of seed companies (and greenhouses) don't label them anything other than just "crookneck", which is why I didn't try to split this article up further amongst different varieties.
Some varieties include ones with rough skin and smooth skin. The one I planted last year was one of the rough (or bumpy) skin varieties. You can't taste those bumps, y'all! The squash were still delicious!
You'll want to plant this squash in a well-drained area that receives full sun. The more sun, the better the production! Sow these seeds about 1 inch deep, about 18 inches apart, with about 24 inches between rows. I'd recommend more if space allows, just to help with harvesting. I planted these last year and my plants were overlapping each other slightly.
While you can start these indoors, and transplant them outside, it's not recommended. Squash roots are very sensitive and easily damaged during transplant. If you do, though, you'll want to start them indoors about a month before you want to move them outside (after any frost danger).
Some folks plant squash on hills that are about 2 feet in diameter, rather than in rows.
Once they're in the ground, you'll want to give these squash plenty of water. I recommend around 2 inches of water per week, and maybe more if you live in a hot and dry climate like I do (north-central Texas). If you don't have a super fertile soil, and didn't mix any compost into your soil before planting, you will probably want to fertilize these squash around the same time you start to see blooms.
Harvesting this squash needs to be done at least every other day. You'll want to make sure you're picking the squash well before they "mature", just to avoid the plant turning to seed production rather than "fruit" production.
I recommend picking the squash when they're around 6 inches long. This will give you a nice amount of vegetable, while also maintaining the best tenderness and flavor.
Pests and disease
Ever heard of a thing called a squash bug? If not, you will, and there is no one-size-fits-all remedy. Around here the squash bugs don't get too bad until it starts to get pretty hot outside. By then we've got about all the squash harvested that we need so we just pull the plants.
Some folks recommend changing where you plant your squash (and other cucurbits) from year to year, too, which could help reduce the number of bugs that find your plants. It's also a good idea to help prevent some kinds of pathogens that may remain in the soil.
While there are other varieties of crookneck squash, from my reading, it looks like all the info applies to them all. Also, a lot of seed companies (and greenhouses) don't label them anything other than just "crookneck", which is why I didn't try to split this article up further amongst different varieties.
Some varieties include ones with rough skin and smooth skin. The one I planted last year was one of the rough (or bumpy) skin varieties. You can't taste those bumps, y'all! The squash were still delicious!
Sowing and planting
You'll want to plant this squash in a well-drained area that receives full sun. The more sun, the better the production! Sow these seeds about 1 inch deep, about 18 inches apart, with about 24 inches between rows. I'd recommend more if space allows, just to help with harvesting. I planted these last year and my plants were overlapping each other slightly.
While you can start these indoors, and transplant them outside, it's not recommended. Squash roots are very sensitive and easily damaged during transplant. If you do, though, you'll want to start them indoors about a month before you want to move them outside (after any frost danger).
Some folks plant squash on hills that are about 2 feet in diameter, rather than in rows.
Care and growing
Once they're in the ground, you'll want to give these squash plenty of water. I recommend around 2 inches of water per week, and maybe more if you live in a hot and dry climate like I do (north-central Texas). If you don't have a super fertile soil, and didn't mix any compost into your soil before planting, you will probably want to fertilize these squash around the same time you start to see blooms.
Harvest
Harvesting this squash needs to be done at least every other day. You'll want to make sure you're picking the squash well before they "mature", just to avoid the plant turning to seed production rather than "fruit" production.
I recommend picking the squash when they're around 6 inches long. This will give you a nice amount of vegetable, while also maintaining the best tenderness and flavor.
Pests and disease
Ever heard of a thing called a squash bug? If not, you will, and there is no one-size-fits-all remedy. Around here the squash bugs don't get too bad until it starts to get pretty hot outside. By then we've got about all the squash harvested that we need so we just pull the plants.
Some folks recommend changing where you plant your squash (and other cucurbits) from year to year, too, which could help reduce the number of bugs that find your plants. It's also a good idea to help prevent some kinds of pathogens that may remain in the soil.