Squash Grow Out Update

Here in all its glory is a fraction of our squash harvest. What a fun and interesting year it has been. This year we grew out close to one hundred different varieties. Many varieties suffered in our brutally hard growing conditions this year. Weeks of upper ninety/one-hundred degree temps, no rain for months, and an established cucumber beetle population destroyed many varieties. Of the four species of squash grown, C. moschata did the best. Most varieties performed well. However, Musquee de Provence and Greek Sweet Red withered and died before even flowering. Waltham butternut was the winnter in terms of productivity. Seminole was the winner in terms of taste. C. pepo squash like pumpkins, spaghetti squash and some acorn types did well, but forget about zucchini. The only reason we can supply zucchini throughout the growing season is with five successive plantings. Basically, from the time zucchini goes to the field the farmer has 45 days before the plants are dead from bacterial wilt. C. mixta did ok. The lighter colored varieties like gold striped cushaw didn't sunburn. C. maxima was a near total failure. Sure we got a few fruits - but that was only from late plantings - and considering the total yield I would say all C. maxima varieties trialed this year were a flop. If anyone knows of a maxima type that works in the Midwest when grown organically, please let me know.