Squash - Summer

The fruits of various members of the gourd family, which fall into two classifications, summer squash and winter squash. Good keepers became known as winter vegetables if they would keep until December. Winter squash comes in shapes round and elongated, scalloped and pear-shaped with flesh that ranges from golden-yellow to brilliant orange. Most winter squashes are vine-type plants whose fruits are harvested when fully mature. They take longer to mature than summer squash (3 months or more) and are best harvested once the cool weather of fall sets in. They can be stored for months in a cool basement-hence the name Winter squash.