Squash Cultivation Guide

Squash is one of the most versatile and delicious vegetables grown throughout the globe and it also pack good vitamins and an excellent health benefits. Squash is an herbaceous annual viny, creeping and trailing plant and produces vegetable that is large and variable in shape, size, colour and markings with a peduncle that is corky on the surface. This vegetable belongs to the family of "Cucurbitaceae' and genus of “Cucurbita”. There are mainly two types of squash; winter squash and summer squash and most summer squash have a bushy growth habit, unlike the rambling vines of many winter squashes. Some of the common names of squash vegetable are winter squash, zucchini (summer squash), butternut, pumpkin, gourd, cushaw and marrow. Squash is a rich source of vitamin A, phosphorus & calcium. Generally, the young and tender shoots are used in culinary (cooking) purpose. As the squash is warm season crop, India would be the best place to grow squash commercially. Squash can be grown in greenhouse, poly house and under shade net as well. Squash can be grown in pots, containers and backyards as well. To read More about squash farming. Click here.