20 Incredible Squash Varieties

How many types of squash can you name? Summer or winter, add one of these colorful varieties to your garden.

August 25, 2020

By: Danny Bonvissuto

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'Little Dipper' Squash

Nutty and sweet-tasting, ‘Little Dipper’ is a butternut winter squash that's small enough to use for individual servings. The lightbulb-shaped fruits grow to about 2 pounds each and store well for a long time.

From: Lynn Coulter

‘Green Eggs’ Summer Squash

These 5-inch ovals offer a creamy flesh that serves a nutty, caramelized flavor when grilled. Vines have fewer spines than traditional zucchini, so they’re not as prickly to weed and harvest. Expect an 8-week-long harvest window.

Zucchini

The zucchini is a summer squash which often grows to nearly a meter in length, but which is usually harvested at half that size or less. It is used as a vegetable for savory side dishes.

Learn More: Zucchini 101: Growing and Harvesting This Super Squash

'Blue Hubbard' Squash

For fans of winter squash, Blue Hubbard is one of the standards. The tear drop-shape fruits typically weigh 15 to 40 pounds and keep well into winter. The flesh is golden and fine-grained (no strings). The sweet flavor enhances pies, baked goods and savory dishes like soup or chili.

Learn More: The Best Heirloom Vegetables

'Honey Bear' Squash

This plump variety may look like little green pumpkins, but they're actually acorn squash. Known for their sweet flavor, they're also mildew tolerant.

Yokohama Squash

This beautiful, dark-green squash was introduced to America from Japan in the late 1800s. Yokohama is revered for its buttery flavor and sweet fragrance.

Learn More: Heirloom Pumpkins

'Bush Delicata' Squash

Green and white on the outside and filled with sweet orange flesh on the inside, the 'Bush Delicata' squash is full of vitamin A and has a long shelf life.

Yellow Summer Squash

Yellow squash includes a smooth-skinned, straightneck variety and a crookneck variety that is known for its curved neck and "lumpy" skin. Yellow squash is a vigorous grower and homeowners often only need a few plants.

Butternut Squash

Butternut squash is known for its sweet, nutty taste. This winter squash produces medium-sized fruits with beige skin and orange flesh, and needs a lot of room to grow.

Acorn Squash

Acorn squash starts out a dark green that turns bright orange as it matures. Each vine produces 4-5 plants and is small enough to be grown in deep containers. Sweet acorn squash is a favorite in savory baked dishes.

Learn More: Types of Winter Squash

'Pink Banana Jumbo' Squash

These large, oblong heirlooms have pink-orange skin and orange flesh that is delicious when baked, roasted or boiled. For best flavor, harvest when the fruit is less than 30-inches long.

'Fortune' Squash

These light yellow batons have a slender but sturdy neck.

'Cuarzo' Squash

This grey zucchini is sought after for its high yields and resistance to disease, which gives it a longer growing season.

'Gold Rush' Squash

The supermodel of the squash world, the 'Gold Rush' is bright yellow, smooth and uniformly shaped.

'Papaya Pear' Squash

Named for its resemblance to the tropical fruit, 'Papaya Pear' is a summer squash that takes 40 days from sown seed to harvest.

The Carnival Squash

The carnival's in town! This colorful hybrid of an acorn and sweet dumpling squash, starts out dark green and slowly turns cream with bands of bright orange as the squash matures. With a sweet, nutty flavor, these minis can be used for soups and roasting.

'Bonbon' Squash

The 'Bonbon' variety gets its name from its sweet flavor and creamy texture. They're easy to grow and can reach up to four pounds.

'Sunshine' Kabocha Squash

Winner of the 2004 All-America Selections Vegetable Award, the 'Sunshine' squash has reddish-orange skin and a flattened globe-like appearance.

Spaghetti Squash

Spaghetti squash gets its name from its stringy, noodle-like flesh. The skin starts out ivory and turns pale yellow as it matures.

'Eight Ball' Squash

The first variety of round green zucchini squash, 'Eight Balls' taste best when they're picked young. If you wait too long, scoop out the seeds and use them as a bowl for dips or soup.

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Photo By: Park Seed/Sakata Seed

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Photo By: Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds at RareSeeds.com