Squash
Pattypan squash
Pattypan squash: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
Pattypan squash is an annual vegetable belonging to Cucurbita pepo, in the Cucurbitaceae family. Its rounded, flattened fruit has a scalloped edge that gives it the appearance of a small flying saucer. This outline distinguishes it from an elongated courgette or zucchini, although both belong to the same species. Pattypan refers to a type of squash encompassing several cultivars, rather than a single fruit with an unchanging colour, size or texture.The fruits may be white, yellow, green or orange, sometimes with contrasting shades or markings. ‘Sunburst’ is one example with yellow fruits. The wavy rim, the slightly raised centre and the fruit stalk contribute to the familiar shape. Skin colour alone does not describe the flavour, however, and is not a complete indication of how far a fruit has developed. Different cultivars can produce noticeably different appearances within the same recognisable group.The plant has large, often lobed leaves carried on…
