Button Squash 'Bennings Green Tint'

Bennings Green Tint is a heirloom button squash variety that produces excellent yields of pale-green fruits. This variety has fruits which are tender and of good flavour. Pick button squash when young to encourage further production. 9-10 weeks to harvest. 15 seeds per packet.
Button Squash 'Bennings Green Tint'
Button Squash 'Bennings Green Tint'
Price Per Packet: $ 2.50

Growing Advice

Scientific Name: Cucurbita pepo

Common Names: Patty Pan Squash, Button Squash, names of this variety include 'Bennings Green Tint' and 'Farrs White Bush'

Family: Cucurbitaceae

Origin

Bennings green tint is a heirloom variety of button squash that was bred in the USA during the 1910s by Charles N. Farr.  Farr selected this variety for the uniformly scalloped ridges of the fruit and their pale-green colouration when picked young.

Culinary Uses

Button squash is a truly delicious vegetable, milder and sweeter than green zucchini but with a similar texture.  Button squashes are best steamed briefly and eaten sliced into wedges, but they can also be diced and stir-fried or used as an alternative in any dish that calls for regular zucchini.  Bennings green tint is regarded as one of the best textured and finest flavoured heirloom button squash varieties commonly grown.  Young fruits have a pale-green coloured skin which turns white when left on the bush to mature.  The flavour and texture of this variety is best picked small while the skin still has its greenish tint.

Growing Tips

For optimum growth and production button squash should be planted in full sun, however gardeners in warmer climates may instead prefer to grow it in light shade to reduce heat stress during the hottest parts of the day.  Button squash plants grow best in free-draining, fertile soil rich in organic matter.  If your soil is sandy, heavy with clay, compacted or lacking in organic matter you can improve its structure and fertility by placing down a layer of compost or well-rotted manure prior to planting button squash.  Worms and other soil microorganisms will help to incorporate the organic matter through the soil.  In order to put on enough leaf growth to support a bumper crop of button squashes your bushes will need plenty of nitrogen to get started.  Top dress around button squash plants with a nitrogen-rich organic fertiliser such as blood and bone a few weeks after planting.  Mulch around button squash plants to help retain soil moisture, reduce splash-back of fungal spore from the soil onto the leaves and keep the fruits clean and off the ground.  Water button squash plants deeply but only every few days once they begin to show signs of wilting.  Watering button squash plants shallowly every day will increase the chance of fungal diseases such as powdery mildew or stem rot.  Avoid watering the leaves to reduce the spread of powdery mildew fungal spores.

When to Sow

In temperate regions of Australia sow bennings green tint button squash seeds from mid Spring through to early Summer.  In frost-free subtropical regions of Australia sow bennings green tint button squash seeds from late Winter through to early Autumn.  In tropical regions of Australia sow bennings green tint button squash seeds from late Summer through to early Spring so that most of their growth will occur during the dry season when they will be less likely to suffer from fungal issues.

How to Sow

Sow bennings green tint button squash seeds 2cm deep directly where they are to grow or in punnet cells.  Button squash started in punnets will grow quickly and need to be transplanted not long after germination.  For vigorous, uniform plants sow two button squash seeds per planting hole and snip off the weaker sprout after a weeks growth taking care not to disturb the roots of the seedlings you wish to keep.  Bennings green tint button squash bushes grow large and will start to trail a little once mature so allow plenty of space between them, 75cm should be sufficient.  Button squash bushes that are planted too closely together will be more likely to suffer from powdery mildew as airflow between plants will be reduced, grow smaller due to competition and be less productive.

Germination Time

Button squash seeds germinate quickly and consistently with most seedlings emerging 7 to 13 days after sowing.

Time to Harvest

Bennings green tint button squash bushes begin producing fruit about 9 to 10 weeks after sowing the seeds.  Pick button squashes regularly to ensure an ongoing harvest, mature fruits left on the bushes will slow down their growth and decrease flower production.