Squash, White Bush Scallop Seed

Grow compact white patty-pan squash for steady summer picking.

Compact plants, distinctive fruit

White Bush Scallop is a bush-type summer squash that produces white, saucer-shaped patty-pan fruit. Its compact growth suits a smaller vegetable garden where a long-running vine would be in the way. This variety matures in about 49 days, so the first picking can arrive early in the warm season. The creamy flesh works in the same ways as other summer squash: slice it for a skillet, roast it whole while small, or add it to a quick vegetable bake.

Give the bush room and sun

Plant after frost danger has passed, in a sunny spot with fertile soil and good drainage. Summer squash grows on non-vining bushes, but the leaves spread out as the plant matures. Leave enough room to work around the plant and let air move through the foliage. Sow shallowly in warm soil and keep the bed evenly moist while seeds germinate and young plants establish. Once the first flowers appear, pollinating insects need access to them for fruit to set.

Pick before the fruit gets oversized

Check plants often once they begin producing. Pattypan squash is best harvested while the fruit is still immature, commonly around three to four inches across. Small fruit has tender skin and a mild flavor. If one is left on the plant until its rind hardens, it is past the ideal eating stage. Remove oversized fruit so the plant can keep producing new squash. A few minutes of checking every day or two can keep the harvest at the size that works best for the kitchen.

Keep the harvest moving

The 49-day maturity gives you a useful first crop, but summer squash keeps producing when plants are picked regularly. If you want a longer harvest window, a second sowing can follow later in the season when local frost timing allows. Water at soil level when possible to keep foliage drier. Watch for squash bugs and other common summer-squash problems, especially as plants flower and fruit. Bring the harvest inside promptly and use it while fresh; summer squash has a shorter storage life than winter varieties.