Latest Zucchini and Summer Squash Selections Ripe for Good Growth
Zucchini and summer squash varieties are plentiful. But which are a good fit for your farm? Scan the photo gallery below for fresh choices from leading seed breeders and distributors.
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49er F1 (Seeds by Design)
‘49er F1’ is a summer squash that grows 7 to 8 inches long. It has a golden color fruit, and the plant produces a good yield of fruit. Grows well across the U.S. A variety that works well for fresh market segments. Matures in 50 days.
https://seedsbydesign.com/collections/summer-squash-seeds/products/squash-summer-seeds-49er-f1
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Black Coral (Seeds by Design)
A dark-green colored fruit, ‘Black Coral’ averages 7 to 8 inches in length. It has the potential for a heavy yield, with an open bush habitat. A standout at fresh market. Grows well across the U.S. Matures in 45 days.
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Bladerunner (Syngenta Vegetable Seeds, Clifton Seed Company, Gowan Seed Company, Seedway)
‘Bladerunner’ is a zucchini, suited for fresh market and processors due to reduced bulbing. It’s easier to visualize and harvest fruit for potential labor cost savings. The ability to plant and harvest a high proportion of marketable fruit with increased disease pressure. ‘Bladerunner’ is an open, upright, compact plant and has long peduncles. It features a robust disease resistance package. Region: Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, Carolinas, Florida and Georgia. Matures in 40 days.
Disease package: IR: CMV, WMV, ZYMV, Gc, Px, PRSV
https://www.syngentavegetables.com/en-us/product/seed/squash/bladerunner
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El Dorado (Earthwork Seeds, Gowan Seed Company)
‘El Dorado’ is a yellow, hybrid straight neck squash with vigorous, nearly spineless plant. It has a strong disease package, and is widely adapted. A perfect choice for fresh market. Matures in 45 days.
Disease package: IR: PRSV, Px, ZYMV
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Fortress (Syngenta Vegetable Seeds, Clifton Seed Company, Seedway)
‘Fortress’ is a medium-green zucchini with a cylindrical glossy fruit. It has strong yielding plants for higher profit potential. Groundbreaking resistance to downy mildew minimizes the need for inputs. Region: Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Florida, Carolinas and Georgia. Matures in 45 days.
Disease package: IR: Pc, CMV, WMV, ZYMV, Px, PRSV
https://www.syngentavegetables.com/en-us/product/seed/squash/fortress
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Glowray RZ (Rijk Zwaan)
‘Glowray RZ’ delivers exceptional quality, fancy yellow straightneck squash with a small pistillar scar for a clean, attractive appearance. Its upright growth and open plant habit allow for easy harvesting and high yields. ‘Gloway RZ’ is a semi-spineless variety that features a strong disease resistance package. A great variety for fresh market from Rijk Zwaan. Regions: Southeast, Texas, Midwest and East Coast. Matures in 40 to 45 days, depending on regions.
Disease package: IR: ZYMV, Px
https://rijkzwaanusa.com/squash/GLOWRAY-RZ-F1-prdCP10633-ctgCrops.squash
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Green Lightning (PanAmerican Seed, Osborne Quality Seeds)
A very-early patty pan scallop squash with vivid green striping. ‘Green Lightning’ has exceptional yield and great flavor. Be the first to market with this AAS summer squash winner! Matures 40 days, from transplant.
https://www.osborneseed.com/products/squash-scallop-green-lightning-f1-untreated
Photo by Carol Miller
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Green Machine (Enza Zaden, Rupp Seeds)
‘Green Machine’ is a summer squash that is widely adaptable. It’s a high yielding variety and has a strong semi-open plant, with an excellent disease package. Region: USA and Canada. Matures in 45 days.
Disease package: CMV, DM, WMV, ZYYMV
https://www.ruppseeds.com/vegetables/products/squash/summer-squash/summer-green/green-machine
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GVS 48050 F1 Hybrid (Golden Valley Seed)
The plant has a compact bush habit. The fruit is blocky with a slight taper. ‘GVS 48050 F1 Hybrid’s’ interior is greenish white, the exterior is pale green with flecks. The average size is 12 centimeters in length. These zucchini are suitable for fresh markets and home gardens. Matures in 45 days.
Disease package: CMV-2, ZYMV, CMV, WMV, PMR, DMR
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GVS 48420 VR F-1 Hybrid (Golden Valley Seed)
A large upright plant habit. The fruit is bulbous to cylindrical. ‘GVS 48420 VR F1 Hybrid’s’ interior is greenish white and exterior is light green. The harvest length averages 12 to 14 centimeters. This variety is suitable for fresh markets and home gardens. It is very productive and produces a high quality marketable fruit. Grows well anywhere Anita type summer squash can be planted. Matures in 45 days.
Disease package: WMV, ZYMV, PMR, DMR
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Kefren RZ (Rijk Zwaan)
Kefren RZ is a green zucchini with elegant dark green and regular fruits. It is a very healthy upright plant with strong fruit attachment that facilitates knifeless, hand harvest. It has strong resistance to powdery mildew and the planting period is late spring through early summer. Widely adaptable throughout U.S. Matures in 43 to 45 days, depending on region.
Disease package: HR: PMR
https://rijkzwaanusa.com/vegetable-seeds/squash/kefren-rz-f1-prdCP10203-ctgCrops.squash
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Lunar Eclipse F1 (Terra Organics)
‘Lunar Eclipse F1’ is a summer squash with a pale green scallop. It has a semi-open bush habitat and heavy yields. A nice size for fresh market. Matures in 40 days
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Maveric (Johnny's Selected Seeds)
Strongly parthenocarpic, ‘Maveric’ produces uniform, cylindrical fruit with very few culls. Growers can get an extra-early head start on zucchini season, with a big flush of beautiful, shiny fruit while pollinators are absent. Compact, open plant with minimal spines makes for easy harvesting. Best for high tunnel and greenhouse production, as growing outside may result in very small plants. ‘Maveric’ is widely adapted. Matures in 42 days.
Disease package: IR: PM
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Peter Pan F1 (Terra Organics)
‘Peter Pan F1’ is a miniature patty pan type of summer squash. It has light-green colored fruit, and has a sweet taste. The average width is 1 to 3 inches. A fresh market variety. Matures in 50 days.
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Rabun (Bejo Seeds, Stokes Seeds Inc.)
‘Rabun’ has a medium-dark green fruit on a compact plant, with open structure for easy picking. Plant remains compact and upright throughout the entire harvest period. This summer zucchini is well suited to fresh market sales. Matures in 43 days.
Disease package: HR: Px
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Resolute (HM.Clause)
'Resolute’, a green zucchini is an economical, high-yielding variety. It continues to perform, even in tough conditions, with its’ ability to maintain fruit shape in the heat. Growers can rely on consistent quality throughout the season. Its’ open plant habit also ensures fast, efficient harvesting with less labor required. An early maturing zucchini.
Disease package: IR: Px, ZYMV
https://productexplorer.hmclause.com/Variety/Details?id=6837f1f285c854705
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Salute (HM.CLAUSE)
'Salute', a green zucchini that stands out with its vigorous, upright plant structure; remains strong even after multiple harvests. Its’ open canopy makes fruit easy to spot and pick, helping reduce harvesting time and costs. Growers can count on very high yields and a green fruit with a light flecking pattern, perfectly suited for the U.S. market. An early maturing variety.
Disease package: IR: Px, PRSV, WMV, ZYMV
https://productexplorer.hmclause.com/Variety/Details?id=67e40412c51fe4564
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Smooth Criminal (Seneca Vegetable Research, Stokes Seeds Inc.)
‘Smooth Criminal’ is a summer yellow squash. The plants are nearly spineless with an upright growth habit. The fruit are 6 inches long with good neck girth, and uniformity. Matures in 50 days.
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Smooth Wonder (Seneca Vegetable Research, Gowan Seed Company)
‘Smooth Wonder’ is a yellow summer squash with very strong yield potential. The plants are nearly spineless, allowing for easy picking, and much less scarring of fruit. This hybrid straightneck performs best in sandier well drained soils. Matures in 45 days.
Disease package: HR: Pcu, Px
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Sophy (Johnny's Selected Seeds)
A hybrid Costata Romanesco-type zucchini, combines the excellent eating quality and appearance of the heirloom, with the improved agronomics of a modern hybrid. ‘Sophy’ has very reduced spines and a more open, upright plant architecture than others of this type. It is a higher yielding variety with added virus resistance (that is particularly helpful for the American South). It’s excellent for harvest at small size with blossoms attached. ‘Sophy’ is widely adapted. Matures in 55 days.
Disease package: IR: PRSV, WMV, ZYMV
https://www.johnnyseeds.com/vegetables/squash/summer-squash/sophy-f1-zucchini-squash-seed-5179.html
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Sunburst (Syngenta Vegetable Seeds, Osborne Quality Seeds)
An AAS winner! ‘Sunburst’ patty pans are bright yellow with a spot of green on its blossom end. The compact, open plant is very prolific, producing disc-shaped fruit that harvest best when young. Matures 50 days from transplant
https://www.osborneseed.com/products/sunburst-f1-untreated-squash-seeds
View all
49er F1 (Seeds by Design)
Black Coral (Seeds by Design)
Bladerunner (Syngenta Vegetable Seeds, Clifton Seed Company, Gowan Seed Company, Seedway)
El Dorado (Earthwork Seeds, Gowan Seed Company)
Fortress (Syngenta Vegetable Seeds, Clifton Seed Company, Seedway)
Glowray RZ (Rijk Zwaan)
Green Lightning (PanAmerican Seed, Osborne Quality Seeds)
Green Machine (Enza Zaden, Rupp Seeds)
GVS 48050 F1 Hybrid (Golden Valley Seed)
GVS 48420 VR F-1 Hybrid (Golden Valley Seed)
Kefren RZ (Rijk Zwaan)
Lunar Eclipse F1 (Terra Organics)
Maveric (Johnny's Selected Seeds)
Peter Pan F1 (Terra Organics)
Rabun (Bejo Seeds, Stokes Seeds Inc.)
Resolute (HM.Clause)
Salute (HM.CLAUSE)
Smooth Criminal (Seneca Vegetable Research, Stokes Seeds Inc.)
Smooth Wonder (Seneca Vegetable Research, Gowan Seed Company)
Sophy (Johnny's Selected Seeds)
Sunburst (Syngenta Vegetable Seeds, Osborne Quality Seeds)
Disease Abbreviation Key:
CMV: Cucumber Mosaic Virus
DM: Downy Mildew
IR: Intermediate resistance
PM: Powdery Mildew
PMR: Powdery Mildew Resistance
PRSV: Papaya Ringspot Virus
Px: Powdery mildew caused by Podosphaeria xanthii (ex Sphaerotheca fuliginea)
WMV: Watermelon Mosaic Virus
ZYMV: Zucchini Yellows Mosaic Virus
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Carol Miller is the Content Lead of American Vegetable Grower®, a Meister Media Worldwide publication. See all author stories here.