Calhoun County, AL – I enjoy planting crook necked squash because it matures by fifty three days after planting. I sow the seeds after any sign of frost. The best method to germinate your squash seeds after sowing them is to keep the seeds moist daily until germination. Once germinated do not over water the new plants. Squash can wilt from too much moisture & lack of drainage. I use NEEM Oil as a three fold fungicide, miticide, pesticide weekly on my squash. Squash keeps inside your refrigerator fresher not placed inside plastic zip bags or containers. I enjoy cooking squash. One of my favorite squash recipes is fried squash. I cut the squash in disk, soak the squash in milk, drain the squash, batter it in a mixture of corn meal & flour. I use bamboo bar-b-q skewers to insert the disk on the skewers, and fry them in vegetable oil. Another easy summer favorite is to stir fry the squash with other vegetables, such as bell peppers, onions, okra. Many community gatherings of pot luck offer ole fashioned squash casseroles, made with eggs, milk, bread crumbs, seasoning, baked in the oven. I freeze my squash by washing it, cutting it into disk and placing the disk on a cookie baking tray for 15 minutes in a 400° pre heated oven. Take the tray out of the oven, allow the squash to fully cool. It is ready to be placed in freezer bags. I hope you enjoy the benefits of the crook necked squash as much as I do!
Betty Clark is a contributing writer. She is an organic gardener since 1998. Signature flower she grows are Dahlias. She has a straw bale garden, raised bed garden, and in ground garden. Both her surnames are agricultural farming families (8 generations). Her hobbies include ancestry research, antiques, continued education classes, and workshops. She also has a background in marketing & promotions including expos. To contact Betty Clark with gardening questions: bettyclark2151959@gmail.com
