In 1949, the Caserta Summer Squash won the All-AmericaSelections Awardas an exceptional Zucchini; it remains so. The bush plant produces 16 zucchini that are quite thin. Fruits are bulbous at the end and narrow at the neck, a light green color alternating with forest green bands. Caserta Summer Squash is best harvested young.

20 seeds

PLANTING

Cucurbita pepo

Germination:4-10 days

Germination Temperature:Optimum soil temperatures 70-85F

Seed Sowing Depth:1/2-1″ deep

Sowing Indoors:3-4 weeks before the last frost.Provide70-85Fsoil temperature.Sow 2-3 seeds per cell/pot.Sowing into individual biodegradable peat/cow pots reduces rootdamage when transplanting. Transplant 36-48″ apart after the last frost.

Sowing Outdoors:Sow after the last frostwhen the soil temperature is over70F.Sow a few seeds every 36-48″.

Harvest:Check and harvest a few times a week. Cut or kindly twist off fruit, starting at a 3-4.

Tips:Plant Caserta Summer Squash in fertile soil, amended with compost or well-rotted manure, and keep well watered. They benefit from growing on black plastic and by using row covers for weed, insect control, and more rapid growth.