Type of Harvest: Seasonal harvest

Transplant/Direct Sow: Direct sow or transplant

When to Plant: Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the average last frost date for spring, and 6-8 weeks before the average first frost date for a fall garden. To direct so, wait for the temperature to be 70°F.

Days to Germinate: 6-10 days

Days to Maturity: 55 days

Planting Depth: 1” deep

Germination Temp: 70°F

Seed Spacing: Plant in hills with 3-4 seeds per hill. Thin or transplant seedlings so that only the strongest seedling remains. Hill spacing should be 3 feet apart.

Row Spacing: 3' apart

Light: Full sun

Soil pH: 6.0-6.5 pH

Water: 1 ½-2” of water per week - water if the plant should start to wild on hot days.

Soil Temperature: Minimum 70°F. These are heat weather loving plants.

Fertilizer: 10-10-10 N-P-K ratio 10-15-10 during flowering

Rotation: Rotate yearly for all summer squash. These are heavy feeders.

Harvest Type

White bush squash is a continuous harvest throughout the growing season.

Transplant / Direct Sow

In the spring, start seeds indoors about 4-6 weeks before the average last frost date. Because White Bush Squash is a heat loving plant, you can direct sow seeds in late spring or early summer, when the soil temperature is above 70°F. White Bush Squash will not tolerate frost.

Sun:

Full Sun

When to Plant:

Transplant or direct sow seeds when the soil temperature is 70°F.

Days to germinate

It takes most White Bush Squash seeds 6-10 days to sprout.

Days to maturity

It takes about 55 days for to produce regular fruit.

Planting Depth

Plant seeds 1" deep.

Germination Temperature Range

Germination is best when the soil is 70°F.

Spacing Between Plants

Plant 3-4 seeds in hills and thin to one squash plant. You can transplant the others if needed. Place hills 3 feet apart and rows 3 feet apart. If you are short on room row spacing can be 2-3 feet apart and plant spacing can be 2.5 feet apart.

TIP: Summer squash are prickly if you give them more space (3-feet per plant) you will be able to harvest the fruit quickly and without squash rash.

Companion Plants

Corn, pole beans, long beans, summer peas are all excellent companion plants for White Bush Squash.

Growing conditions

White Bush Squash is a heat loving plant. Start with good, well-draining soil—water with 1-2" of water per week, keeping the ground evenly moist. Try to water the plant roots rather than the leaves. Plant in full sun. White bush squash will die if it experiences a frost. In most climates you get one planting of White Bush Squash per year.

Tip: You can boost harvest if you succession plant another crop about 1.5 weeks apart.

Rotation

Summer Squash, such as White Bush Squash needs rotation every year. These are heavy feeders and will suck the nitrogen and other minerals out of the ground.

Anticipated yields

Plan your garden yield at 3-4 White Bush Squash plants per person. Expect 10-20 pounds of fruit from a White Bush Squash per plant. If you over-plant, you can share them with others. If the squash get too larger, cut them in half and feed them to your chickens or toss them in the compost.