21 of the Best Summer Squash Varieties

If the thought of summer squash brings to mind images of yellow crooknecks and little else, get ready to make a new discovery – there are so many different types!

These include straightnecks, zucchini, pattypans, round cultivars, and even some with bold stripes and other intriguing patterns.

I’ve created a helpful list of 21 of the best summer squash varieties you can grow in your garden.

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I’ve included some open-pollinated heirlooms with deep historical roots, some super productive and disease resistant hybrids – and some oddball varieties for the adventurous among us.

These members of the cucurbit family are all tender annuals and they are fairly quick to mature.

Unlike winter squash and pumpkins, which require a longer growing season, even if you find yourself reading this in midsummer, it may not be too late to get sowing!

Summer squash has so many culinary uses, and some types are particularly well-suited for specific purposes, so I’ll make sure to point these out to you.

I’ll also let you know how big you can expect the plants to grow, when to harvest for the best taste and texture, and how many days you will require from sowing to harvesting.

Here’s a sneak-peek at my list, with detailed descriptions to follow:

If you’re a foodie and the standard crookneck squash seems a bit too pedestrian for you, let’s take a moment to delve into its history.

In his excellent book “Heirloom Vegetable Gardening,” available on Amazon, William Woys Weaver offers very good evidence that yellow crookneck squash originated in New Jersey and was cultivated by the Lenape