Greta’s Organic Gardens

Greta’s Organic Gardens is an organic seed company based in Gloucester Ontario. They grow plants for their uniqueness in taste, appearance, color, and shape. They’ve found the best of these qualities in old-fashioned plants and organic gardening seeds. They have grown and tested many old-fashioned varieties, and have many great-tasting vegetables on offer. Some of these plant types are quickly being replaced by hybrid and genetically altered varieties. By growing these older varieties yourself, you’ll help preserve our vegetable heritage.

Planting Instructions
This easy-to-grow yellow summer squash has been a favorite for over 150 years. It’s an abundant producer of yellow-skinned, white-fleshed summer squash that are delicious lightly steamed.

Plant two seeds eighteen inches apart. Yellow crook neck squash is a prolific grower and needs room to spread out. Cover the seeds with one inch of soil. Water the seeds in with a watering can.

Seed Saving Tips

Pumpkins, squashes, marrows and courgettes belong to the genus Curcurbita, and members of the same species will cross readily with each other. Cluster multiple plants together to ease mixing of pollen and maintain genetic hardiness. Cucurbits require pollen from male and female flowers to set fruit, hence insect pollinators are essential. You can plant multiple varieties of different species for eating, only separate physically as much as possible with barriers so insect pollinators are less likely to make undesired hybrids. Otherwise, only grow one type each season.

Choose to only pollinate fruit on the healthiest plants. You can eat any produce not designated for seed saving.

If you are hand pollinating, follow the same technique as with cucumbers.  Squash have both male and female flowers on the same plant. Female flowers can be identified as there is a small-looking fruit (the ovary) at the base of the flower. When flowers appear ready to open, close them gently with a rubber band. The next day, remove the rubber band from a male flower and tear off the petals until you can access the pollen. Transfer the pollen from the male flower of one plant to the female flower on another using a paint brush. Re-close the female flower and tie string around the base to remind you that the plant has been pollinated. Repeat as flowers are ready.

Harvest after leaves die in the first frost. After squash are harvested, keep them in a cool, dry place for another month or so to ripen further indoors.

Cut the squash in half and scoop out the seeds. Wash seed in a colander, rubbing it between your hands to get rid of the fibres. Then, shake off as much water as possible and spread seed out on a plate to dry. Seed needs to dry as quickly as possible at room temperature. This can be done by placing the seed on a sunny windowsill. Seeds are dry when they snap rather than bend. Scrape off any remaining dry squash with a fingernail.

Store seeds in an airtight container, paper bag or plastic bag if kept in a dry location. Well-dried seed stored in a cool, dry dark place should retain germability around two years. Remember to label with the variety and year.

For more information, visit http://www.seeds-organic.com/

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