Summer squash are
squashes that are harvested when immature, while the rind is still tender and edible. Most summer squashes are varieties of ''
Cucurbita pepo
''Cucurbita pepo'' is a cultivated plant of the genus ''Cucurbita''. It yields varieties of winter squash and pumpkin, but the most widespread varieties belong to the subspecies ''Cucurbita pepo'' subsp. ''pepo'', called summer squash.
It has b ...
'',
though some are ''
C. moschata''. Most summer squash have a bushy growth habit, unlike the rambling vines of many
winter squash
Winter squash is an annual fruit representing several squash species within the genus '' Cucurbita''. Late-growing, less symmetrical, odd-shaped, rough or warty varieties, small to medium in size, but with long-keeping qualities and hard rinds, ...
es. The term "summer squash" refers to the early harvest period and short storage life of these squashes, unlike that of winter squashes.
Summer squashes include the ''C. pepo'' varieties:
*
Crookneck squash
*
Gem squash
*
Kamokamo
*
Pattypan squash
*
Straightneck squash
*
Zucchini
Zucchini (; : ''zucchini'' or ''zucchinis''), courgette () or ''Cucurbita pepo'' is a summer squash, a Vine, vining herbaceous plant whose fruit are harvested when their immature seeds and Fruit anatomy#Epicarp, epicarp (rind) are still soft a ...
(courgette) and
marrow, respectively immature and mature fruits of the same variety of ''C. pepo''
Other summer squashes include the ''C. moschata'' varieties:
*
Aehobak
*
Tromboncino or zucchetta
History
In the journals of Lewis and Clark, on October 12, 1804, Clark recorded that the Arikara tribe raised "great quantities of Corn Beens Simmins, &c." Clark also used the spelling in his journal entries. Simlin, variously spelled (Thomas Jefferson's spelling) and were words for summer squash, particularly ''Cucurbita pepo'' ''pepo'', common name pattypan squash. The word ''simnel'' was used because of the visual similarity between the squash and the
simnel cake.
References
External links
Squash page
Squashes and pumpkins
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