Grandprize Squash Seed

Why Grow Grandprize Squash?

Built for Tough Conditions Grandprize is a superior straightneck squash variety with high yields and excellent disease resistance. This summer squash variety produces an abundance of high-quality fruit in the toughest conditions. This is the toughest, most vigorous summer squash variety we've grown and it has a place in our garden every year.

Superb Texture and Flavor Grandprize squash have a glossy, deep yellow coloration and a superb texture. This is the perfect variety for mid to late season plantings when humidity can cause disease pressure to accelerate. The disease package and vigor on this variety allows you to have squash all summer long!

Grandprize Squash Growing Tips

• When to Plant Squash

Squash are a "warm season" vegetable that should be directly sewn in the garden once the risk of frost has passed in the early spring months. Because they mature fast, they can be succession planted several times throughout the warm growing months. Many gardeners will plant squash in the early spring, late spring, and late summer to ensure continual harvests throughout the growing season.

Squash plants can get quite large, so be sure to give each plant plenty of room in your garden. We recommend planting seeds at least 2 feet apart and possibly thinning to a plant every 4 feet. This will make harvesting and weeding around the plants easier as they grow.

Plant squash seeds 1/2" to 3/4" deep in well-drained soil. With adequate water and warm soil temperatures, squash seeds usually germinate in just a few days. After germination, expect to see fruits starting to develop in 40-45 days.

• How to Fertilize Squash

It's always a good idea to apply some pre-plant fertilizer to the soil when planting squash. We like to add  Coop Gro organic fertilizer in the planting furrow or over an entire raised bed before planting. This ensures the plants have the right nutrients to put down roots in their new soil.

Fruiting vegetables like squash will benefit from something called "spoon feeding." This process involves frequent fertilizations at lower concentrations, as compared to fertilizing them heavily once.

Once your squash plants start to develop their second and third set of leaves, feed them every 2-3 weeks with a relatively balanced fertilizer. We like to sprinkle Coop Gro around the plants or make a liquid solution of AgroThrive Fruit & Flower and pour that alongside the plants. Healthy, dark green squash plants will be more tolerant of pest and disease pressure as they grow.

*To learn more about dealing with squash pests, watch this video.

• Harvesting Squash

Squash will require harvesting at least every three days. During periods of heavy precipitation or with adequate irrigation, squash may need to be harvested every 1-2 days. Once the female flowers are pollinated, the squash fruits will enlarge quickly.

Squash are best picked when small, as they will be the most tender at this stage. If you let the fruits get too large, they can be come spongy not as desirable. Harvest frequently to ensure you get the fruits when they have the best texture and flavor.