This last summer we grew out the majority of the zucchini and summer squash that we carry, in order to compare and decide which had the best characteristics. We harvested 2 times a week for what seemed like forever, and in the midst of a busy summer certain differences became obvious. Squash can take a long time to hand harvest, especially if one hand is holding a knife, and the harvester has to bend down to a container. Some varieties you can harvest with a twist of the wrist (and no knife), and some you have to cut because the break will happen in the fruit rather than the stem. Although it is only one characteristic of a variety, and other aspects may be more important to you, I feel that the ability to harvest without a knife can save a lot of time.
Piccolo F1
Cue Ball
One Ball, Cue Ball, Eight Ball
 All the ball types were easy to hand harvest from vining bushes. Eight Ball (dark green) is quicker to enlarge, and a little harder to hand harvest. One Ball (yellow) was held the highest off the ground, so there was less potential for rot on the fruit. Cue Ball (light green) was the earliest and most productive.


Star Dust F1
Star Dust F1




Star Dust F1 is a new yellow zucchini that was very productive on a small plant. It has two specific claims to fame: a very small blossom end scar, and good durability when stored in a farm cooler. Summer squash and zucchini want to be stored at 59 degrees farenheight, much warmer than the typical walk-in for produce. Some growers us a separate space for keeping the fruit, but most growers do not have this luxury or are not interested in the complications. Yellow zucchini tends to dimple and shrink when exposed to cold coolers, but Star Dust held up better than other varieties.

Removing blossom on Noche F1
Removing blossom on Noche F1
Noche F1 has easy to remove blossom ends. The general consensus from growers is that Noche may not have the highest yields, but it has the most consistent quality and darkest fruit.
If you want to harvest more often, Reward F1 might be what you want. The harvest is not as long, but if you harvest every day or every other day, you can get a huge yield out of this variety. Almost as dark as Noche.
Dunja F1 has a nice open habit, is easily hand harvested, and has lots of high quality fruit. Not quite as dark as Noche, Dunja has a little more speckling and soft hairs on the fruit. The fruit was nicer than Reward F1.

Dunja F1




Dunja F1


Gold Star F1
Sunglo F1

 Gold Star F1 are vining plants with a closed canopy, and a very prolific yield.They were easy to hand harvest, and the fruit was very tender. 
 Sunglo F1 is not hand harvest-able but had an excellent yield with many fruits ready at once. There was a slight green tint to the fruit. The bulbs were larger than Gold Star, with a more enhanced curve to the neck.

Golden Dawn III F1


Golden Delight F1


Golden Dawn III is a regular producer of really smooth, high quality fruit. The bush was upright, with an open habit, and the fruit was generally pointing upward. It was easy to harvest and was hand harvestable. Not as prolific as Star Dust, but very high quality fruit.
Golden Delight was easy to hand harvest from an extremely open frame. The fruit was ridged and bright yellow, prolific and and had an easy blossom release.
Green Tiger F1
Green Tiger F1 & Sunstripe F1
 Green Tiger has many positive traits, but it is not hand harvestable- you have to use a knife or the fruit will snap. However, it is very productive, attractive, dark and glossy with lighter green stripes, and excellent powdery mildew tolerance in the fall. Sunstripe is ok for hand harvesting, and is a great complement to Green Tiger, although from a different breeder. Slight bulbing and a lower yield are ameliorated by the unusual striping.

Y Star F1


G Star & Y Star F1
 G Star and Y Star are grown on a bush habit plant, high off the ground. You need to use a knife to harvest these. Organic seed.














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