Crookneck squash, also known as yellow squash, is a

cultivar A cultivar is a kind of Horticulture, cultivated plant that people have selected for desired phenotypic trait, traits and which retains those traits when Plant propagation, propagated. Methods used to propagate cultivars include division, root a ...

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 ...

'', the species that also includes some

pumpkin A pumpkin is a cultivar, cultivated winter squash in the genus ''Cucurbita''. The term is most commonly applied to round, orange-colored squash varieties, but does not possess a scientific definition. It may be used in reference to many dif ...

s and most other

summer squash 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'', though some are '' C. moschata''. Most summer squash have a bushy growth habit, un ...

es. The plants are bushy and do not spread like the plants of winter squash and pumpkin. Most often used as a

, it is characterized by its yellow skin (which may be smooth or bumpy) and sweet yellow flesh, as well as its distinctive curved stem-end or "crooked neck". It should not be confused with crookneck cultivars of ''

Cucurbita moschata ''Cucurbita moschata'' is a species originating in the tropical Americas which is cultivated for edible flesh, flowers, greens, and seeds. It includes cultivars known in English as squash or pumpkin. Cultivars of ''C. moschata'' are generally m ...

'', such as the

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, ...

'Golden Cushaw', or the vining summer squash ' Tromboncino'. Its name distinguishes it from another similar-looking variety of ''C. pepo'', the

straightneck squash Straightneck squash is a cultivated variety of ''Cucurbita pepo'' grown as a type of summer squash that is usually yellow-colored. It is also known as yellow squash, though other squashes, such as crookneck squash, may also be known by that name ...

, which is also usually yellow. There is one similar non-edible ''C. pepo'' variety: ''C. pepo'' var. ''ovifera''. Yellow crookneck squash are generally harvested immature, when they are less than two inches in diameter, since the skin toughens and the quality degrades as the squash reaches full maturity.

References

External links

*
National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference
Squashes and pumpkins {{Cucurbitales-stub