Scientific Name: Cucurbita pepo

Common Names: Yellow Crookneck Squash, Crookneck Squash, Yellow Squash, Bumpy Crookneck Squash, Curved-neck Squash

Family: Cucurbitaceae

Origin

Yellow crookneck is one of the oldest heirloom squash varieties available and has been grown by native people of America since at least the 15th century. 

Culinary Uses

Yellow crookneck squashes have delicate, firm white flesh and a bumpy, yellow skin.  The skin becomes tougher as the squash matures so they are best picked and eaten when young.  Sweet and buttery in flavour, yellow crookneck squashes are a delicious vegetable even when eaten plain without seasoning.  Yellow crookneck squashes are at their best thickly sliced and steamed briefly.  They can also added to stir-fries, roasted or used in any recipe that calls for regular green zucchini.  Yellow crookneck squashes can be made into a healthy yet moreish raw snack by slicing them thinly with a kitchen mandolin, seasoning with salt, herbs and olive oil and then drying the slices in a dehydrator.

Growing Tips

Yellow crookneck is an easy to grow squash variety with good disease resistance, they are less susceptible to powdery mildew than other heirloom varieties.  Yellow crookneck squashes produce best when grown in full sun, but gardeners in warm climates may instead prefer a lightly shaded position to reduce heat stress on plants during the hottest part of the day.   Yellow crookneck squashes grow best in free-draining, fertile soil rich in organic matter.  If your garden soil is sandy, heavy with clay, compacted or lacking in organic matter you can improve it by placing down a layer of compost or well-rotted manure prior to planting yellow crookneck squash.  Worms and other soil microorganisms will help to incorporate the organic matter through your garden soil, creating air pockets, improving its texture and increasing its fertility in the process.  Yellow crookneck squashes require lots of nitrogen in order to grow the leaves required to support heavy fruit set.  Top dress around yellow crookneck squash plants once they are established with a nitrogen-rich organic fertiliser such as blood and bone.  Mulch around yellow crookneck plants both to retain soil moisture as well as keep the fruits clean and off the ground where they may otherwise fall victim to pests.  Water yellow crookneck squashes deeply every few days, it's okay to let the plants wilt a little between waterings.  Avoid watering too often and wetting the leaves as this can increase the chance of fungal issues such as powdery mildew or stem rot.

When to Sow

In cold and mountainous regions of Australia sow yellow crookneck squash seeds from mid Spring as long as any chance of frost has past through to early Summer.  In temperate regions of Australia sow yellow crookneck squash seeds from early Spring through to mid Summer.  In frost-free subtropical regions of Australia sow yellow crookneck squash seeds from mid Winter through to early Autumn.  In tropical regions of Australia sow yellow crookneck squash seeds during the dry season from early Autumn through to mid Spring. 

How to Sow

Sow yellow crookneck squash seeds 2cm deep either directly in the ground where they are to grow or in punnet cells.  Squash seedlings started in punnets will only take a week or two to out-grow their containers and should be planted as soon as you see any roots growing out the drainage holes.  If you want to grow consistently vigorous seedlings sow two yellow crookneck squash seeds per planting hole and thin to the healthiest seedling a week after germination.  Yellow crookneck squash plants start off growing in a bush-like habit but will eventually vine out and can end up growing quite long, so leave at least 60cm between plants.  Yellow crookneck squashes planted too closely together will be less productive as they'll have to compete with each other for soil moisture and nutrients. 

Germination Time

Yellow crookneck squash seeds will germinate quickly and consistently will most seedlings emerging 7 to 13 days after sowing.

Time to Harvest

Yellow crookneck squashes take from 9 to 11 weeks to begin producing fruit.  Pick squashes regularly as mature fruit left on the vines will slow the growth of the plant and halt flower production.