Gentry Squash

Cucurbita pepo ‘Gentry’

Characteristics

Culture

Gentry Squash plants produce continuous loads of buttery-yellow fruits that have a semi-crookneck appearance and smooth texture. Gentry, a hybrid, is a very productive summer squash variety. It produces well under stressful growing conditions and can be succession planted throughout the summer months. Fruits are best harvested at 5-6″ long but may be harvested smaller for a more tender texture. 

Squash may be direct seeded or transplanted, although direct seeding is highly recommended.  Squashes are a crop that require multiple harvests throughout the growing season. Regardless of variety, squash will have better flavor and texture when harvested on the small end of the spectrum. Don’t leave oversized squash on the vines. It shuts down production.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Dependable producer of smooth, butter-yellow squash of excellent quality, even in stressful conditions. It handles hot weather better than most varieties.

Problems

Squash can be susceptible to plant diseases like downy mildew and powdery mildew if leaves receive excess moisture. As a result, it’s best to use drip irrigation on squash to reduce plant moisture and feed plants more effectively. Click here for more information about disease issues and pests.

Uses

This is a great variety for frying, steaming, sautéing, squash casserole and any other squash dish you can imagine! Excellent freezing and canning variety. Squash blossoms are a delicacy. Harvest male blossoms when fully open for salads or stuffing. Male blossoms typically precede females by about a week. Females have a bulge at the base of the blossom, an early stage of the fruit forming.