Changing Seasons: The Magic of Squash
Hi Gardening and Wellness Friends 👋🏼
My favorite winter squash: delicata accompanied by a pumpkin and crookneck squash
I love squash in the garden. Summer squash feels like a burst of sunshine. It grows so quickly, almost impatient to be picked. At times I get a little lost in life and forget to consistently pick them, only to be met with gigantic, baseball bat sized squash or zucchini (baseball bat might be an exaggeration, but when you see one of these overgrown zucchinis, you’ll get the picture). The large, overgrown squash are best to be used for bread or faux apple crisp (I’ll do a post with the recipe soon), but the tender young ones are delicious when lightly sautéed with butter, garlic and herbs or stuffed.
Some years I’ve gone a little overboard and planted more than I could ever use or giveaway. I get carried away in the different varieties. The traditional yellow crookneck and black beauty zucchini. The lesser-known yellow zucchini, zephyr or patty pan. But then the winter squash brings along so much diversity. My excitement with choosing what seeds to plant is contagious. Do I go with the traditional butternut, spaghetti, acorn, or the lesser known delicata, North Georgia candy roaster, and honey nut? The options seem endless.
Spaghetti squash makes a lovely pasta alternative
For me, planting summer squash and winter squash at the end of summer isn’t just about the food. It’s a celebration of the changing of the seasons. Summer squash offers quick growth, a fresh summer taste, and snacks straight from the garden all while reminding me to savor the present moment, the fleeting, heat filled days of summer. Winter squash is a slow countdown to the cooler months with rich, sweet, warming flavors that teach me to look forward, to prepare for cozy evenings, hearty meals, and the comforts that come with fall.
Remember, squash is a story of the seasons. It’s a taste of sunshine and a little slice of the magic that turns every harvest into something memorable. I hope this inspires you to plant both summer and winter squash. It’s the perfect time to reap the rewards of summer while anticipating the harvests of fall.
Until next time…..
🌿To our health and the health of our gardens🌿
Tina