Squash - Early Prolific Straightneck

SKU:
CA$3.50
3.5 9 CA$3.50 - CA$9.00
Unavailable
Approximately 8-10seeds per gram.
Cucurbita pepo
Lot# SQ34119
The Early Prolific Straightneck is as the name suggests, ‘prolific’.  A bush type variety of squash that has become the standard yellow, straight-necked type, early summer squash.  Easy to grow and early to harvest.  The delicate lemon cream colored fruits are slender, round with a club shaped end. They are mature at twelve to fourteen inches long but are tender and succulent when they are five to six inches long. Produces 6 to 8 club shaped, light yellow summer squashes per plant.
 Planting Instructions:   
  • Direct sow the seeds in May or June once the soil is warm up to at least 21˚C (70˚F).  Sow 4 to 5 seeds 12mm- 2.5cm (½-1”) deep into hills or rows.  Space hills 91-121cm (3-4’) apart. When the seedlings are 5-7cm (2-3”) tall, thin them to 2-3 plants per hill. If planting rows, sow seeds 10cm (4”) apart in 91-121cm (3-4’) apart. When the seedlings are 5-7cm (2-3”) tall, thin to one plant every 45-61cm (18-24”). For transplants, start indoors 3-4 weeks before transplanting outside. Sow 3 or 4 seeds per pot and thin to one or two plants. Harden off seedlings gradually by cutting back on water and expose them to sunlight daily.  Seedlings should have more than 2 to 3 true leaves prior to transplanting outside. For companion planting benefits, plant squashes along with corn but avoid planting them with potatoes.
  • Soil Conditions:  Well worked rich, loose well-drained soil. Ideal pH: 6.0-7.5
  • Planting Depth:   Sow seeds 12mm- 2.5cm (½-1”) deep.
  • Germination:  3-10 days.
  • Height at Maturity: Early Prolific Straightneck Squash plants reach 61-91cm (24-36”) tall.  Spread is about 51-76cm (20-30”) wide. 
  • Days to Maturity:   50-55days.
  • Watering:   Squash plants require at least 4-5cm (1½-2”) of water a week.  This will ensure good growth, whether vegetables are grown in single hills or wide rows. The amount of rain that falls during the week will help supplement how much you should water your garden.  Soil should remain mildly moist. Do not water shallowly. The soil needs to be moist 4 inches down.
  • Sun/Shade:  Full Sun    
Additional Information
You will not need to grow many of these plants as they are quite prolific producers unless you have lots of friends and family that enjoy Early Prolific Straightneck Squash.   The bush habit is rather closed and can make harvesting a bit of a challenge. Sow squash in the garden as early as 2 weeks after the last average frost date in spring. To get a head start on the season sow squash indoors about 3 weeks before you transplant it into the garden. Sow succession crops every 2 to 4 weeks to extend the harvest and to protect against crops loss to insects or disease. Time all plantings so that squash comes to harvest before the first frost in fall.