Growing crookneck squash

Crookneck squash (*Cucurbita pepo* var. *torticollia*) is a summer squash type with a characteristic curved neck and warty yellow skin that distinguishes it from straightneck and zucchini types. It belongs to the same species as zucchini, pumpkins, and many winter squash, sharing their care.

Crookneck squash (Cucurbita pepo var. torticollia) is a summer squash type with a characteristic curved neck and warty yellow skin that distinguishes it from straightneck and zucchini types. It belongs to the same species as zucchini, pumpkins, and many winter squash, sharing their care requirements, pests, and diseases.

Crookneck squash is among the most productive vegetables in the summer garden — a single plant can produce 6–8 fruits per week at peak production. The challenge is not production: it's the squash vine borer that kills vines before their natural season ends, and powdery mildew that defoliates them in late summer.

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Zones and timing

Per NC State Extension, crookneck squash is a warm-season annual planted after the last frost date when soil temperatures reach 60°F. In zones 5–7, direct-sow in late May through early June. A second planting in early July extends the harvest into September.

Direct seeding is preferable to transplanting. Per Cornell Cooperative Extension, cucurbits transplant poorly — the taproot resents disturbance. If transplanting (for a head start in short-season zones), use peat pots that are planted without removing the root ball and allow the pot to decompose in the soil.