Yellow Summer Squash (Early Prolific Straightneck)
Yellow Summer Squash (Early Prolific Straightneck) is a straight neck, cylindrical with slightly tapered ends squash with fruit around 6-8 inches long, 2-3 inches diameter. Ready from roughly day 50-55. Germination takes 7-10 days. Space 36-48 inches apart at pH 6.0-6.8. Full sun (6+ hours). It will crop in a container. This one is a hybrid: buy seed each season instead of saving it.
Sowing
Direct sow after last frost when soil temperature reaches 65°F. Can start indoors 2-3 weeks before last frost.
Cultivation
- Sun
- Full sun (6+ hours)
- Water
- 1-1.5 inches per week, consistent moisture
- Soil
- Well-drained, fertile soil rich in organic matter
- Soil pH
- 6.0-6.8
- Spacing
- 36-48 inches
- Height
- 1-3 feet
- Season
- Warm season
Appearance & flavour
- Colour
- Bright golden yellow
- Size
- 6-8 inches long, 2-3 inches diameter
- Shape
- Straight neck, cylindrical with slightly tapered ends
- Flavour
- Mild, sweet, and buttery with tender texture
In the kitchen
Grilling, sautéing, baking, zucchini bread substitute, stuffing, casseroles, and fresh eating
Pests, disease & resistance
- Pests
- Squash bugs, cucumber beetles, vine borers, aphids
- Diseases
- Powdery mildew, downy mildew, bacterial wilt, mosaic virus
- Resistance
- Good resistance to powdery mildew and mosaic virus
Planting calendar by USDA zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant | Direct sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | — | — | July – August | September – August |
| 2 | — | — | June – August | September |
| 3 | — | — | June – July | August – October |
| 4 | — | — | June – July | August – October |
| 5 | — | — | May – June | August – September |
| 6 | — | — | May – June | July – September |
| 7 | — | — | April – June | July – August |
| 8 | — | — | April – May | June – August |
| 9 | — | — | March – April | May – July |
| 10 | — | — | February – April | May – June |
| 11 | — | — | January – March | April – May |
| 12 | — | — | January – March | April – May |
| 13 | — | — | January – March | April – May |
Companion planting
8 beneficial pairings indexed for this variety, 3 to avoid.
Avoid
Nutrition (per 100 g)
- Calories (per 100 g)
- 26
- Protein (g)
- 0.52
- Fat (g)
- 0.2
- Carbohydrate (g)
- 5.64
- Sugars (g)
- 3.54
- Vitamin C (mg)
- 4.5
- Vitamin E (mg)
- 0
- Vitamin B6 (mg)
- 0.058
- Folate (µg)
- 22
- Calcium (mg)
- 9
- Iron (mg)
- 0.17
- Magnesium (mg)
- 10
- Phosphorus (mg)
- 12
- Potassium (mg)
- 205
- Zinc (mg)
- 0.07
Where to buy seed and equipment
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Cultivar facts compiled from public horticultural references including USDA GRIN and NC State Extension. Descriptions are original to this catalogue.
Grown Yellow Summer Squash (Early Prolific Straightneck)?
Post a crop report — day counts, reservoir readings, what worked. Variety-specific logs are the most useful thing on the forum.
Similar varieties
Other squash with a comparable time to harvest, so a season that suits Yellow Summer Squash (Early Prolific Straightneck) suits these too.
- Zucchini Dark Green 50 days
- Zucchini Eight Ball 50 days
- Yellow Pattypan Squash (Sunburst) 50 days
- Yellow Scallop Pattypan 50 days
- Yellow Crookneck Squash Early Summer 50 days
- Straightneck Yellow Summer Squash 50 days