The Best Summer Squash Beginner Gardeners Can Easily Grow

If you are a beginner gardener, you might be intimidated by the idea of growing summer squash for the first time. From growing conditions to spring soil preparation, there's so much to worry about that it can easily feel overwhelming. Simplify the process by opting for the easiest summer squash. In an exclusive interview, House Digest's Garden Editor and in-house Master Gardener, Tiffany Selvey, stated "I have grown different types of zucchini and yellow squash, but my favorite is patty pan squash. There are several different varieties, but my absolute favorite is Bennings green tint."

What makes patty pan squash, and specifically the Bennings green tint variety, a good option for beginners? It turns out that this is all thanks to the squash's impressive pest-resisting abilities. Selvey detailed her own experience with this incredible perk. "I always have trouble with squash bugs and vine borers in my organic garden," she shared. "They would typically kill my plants before I got much of a harvest, but Bennings green tint – and patty pans in general – are more resistant to pests than the most common squash varieties." Now that you know which summer squash is super beginner friendly, you should be able to yield better results when embarking on your first summer squash growing journey.

Before you go out and plant your own Bennings green tint or any other variety of patty pan squash, take a moment to learn how summer squash differs from winter squash. Selvey broke this down for beginner gardeners who are eager to gain more knowledge. "Both summer and winter squash are grown during the warm season, but while summer squash is meant to eat fresh off the plant while the skin is still tender, winter squash is so named because it is grown for winter storage," she said while speaking exclusively to House Digest. 

It's also important to understand how to care for summer squash properly. Even though patty pan squash is beginner-friendly, you still must follow proper care and growing guidance to ensure it stays healthy. "One of the most important things you can do to keep your squash plant thriving is to check around the base of the plant, under the leaves, and the stem every other day or so," Selvey explained. "Squash pests show up quickly, so look for squash bugs on the soil around your plant and brown clusters of eggs on the underside of leaves often." 

According to Selvey, you should get rid of any pests or eggs you find immediately. You can use tape to easily remove eggs from your plants. Keep in mind that this advice can be applied to all types of summer squash, not just patty pan. Following these care tips will make it even easier to produce healthy summer squash as a beginner.

While speaking exclusively to House Digest, Selvey provided a few helpful growing tips that you can implement to ensure your summer squash thrives. This should make the process far less intimidating. "Squash needs full sun to produce a lot of fruit, so give it a spot with at least eight hours of sun for the best harvest," she shared. "This family of plants also has separate male and female blooms, so you'll need pollinators in your garden." According to Selvey, it's a good idea to plant flowers that will bring bees into your yard to get those pollinators near your summer squash blooms.

Be careful to avoid some of the common mistakes beginner gardeners make when planting summer squash. Many forget that this vegetable requires quite a bit of monitoring. "Because squash bugs and other common pests are so prolific, gardeners must be diligent to check their plants frequently for issues and take action immediately," Selvey explained. With all of this in mind, you should be able to confidently grow your Bennings green tint patty pan squash, or any other summer squash of your choosing.