The bug pressure in Southeast Texas is HUGE.
I don’t quite think people understand just how bad it can get to you actually have to grow here.
It’s a multilevel approach to help alleviate some of that pressure on the plants.
I companion plant.
I cultivate healthy soil.
And, I have been on a mission to find the best varieties of squash plants that are resistance to powdery mildew and squash vine bore (the bane of existence for gardeners who love squash).
I think I have hit upon 3 different varieties that have done really well this year (Summer 2024)
- Cucuzza (Italian squash-which I have done a post about in the past)
- Tromboncino Squash
- Passion Golden Marbre Scallop (Baker Creek)
I have already done a post about Cucuzza squash HERE, so I am not going to into a lot of detail. Here’s what I like about it
- Drought tolerant
- Self-seeds
- Disease/pest resistant
- Good taste as a young squash (as it ages it gets a hard shell like a gourd)
Trombonicio Squash is also quite a large vine, so make you have something it can climb on and room to allow it to spread. The #1 reason I love this variety is because it’s a two-fer plant, you get two veggies in one plant.
- As a young squash, it has soft skin and tastes quite like zucchini.
- It’s can also be used for a winter squash. Allowing the fruit to age will give you a hard outer shell with an orange inside much like a butternut squash.
- I love that I can grow the squash all season long and get two different yields.
This year I tried the Passion Golden Marbre Scallop from Baker creek.
I have been pleasantly surprised by the high yields at the beginning of the season.
The plants DO get the squash vine bore, but they are trucking along still producing and the plants look great.
These plants are also:
- Heat tolerant
- Mature quickly (55 days)
Here is a bonus with the scallop squashes: If you have a hard time getting your kids to eat them, give them a fun name like Octopus squash or Flying Saucer Squash. My one daughter is 15 and she thought it was fun.
Do you have any favorites of squash that are disease and pest resistant? Let me know in the comments section so that I can try them out as well!