Zephyr Hybrid Summer Squash

buckeyegirl · June 28, 2012

Just a quick review on my Zephyr squashes...

They are magnificent! Have already harvested 11 of them, best picked at about 7-8" long in my opinion. They are extremely prolofic, counted another 15 "baby" squashes on it already. Have eaten them raw with dip and grilled with a little olive oil, garlic powder, and black pepper, excellent either way. Great texture, didn't get "mushy", and a wonderful, buttery flavor. Small seeds/cavity.

I have two plants growing in a "smartpot" and they are massive. I am glad that I didn't stick them in the raised bed, because I think they would have taken it over.

Anyway, I recommend them and will definitely put them on my grow every year list.

gryffin · June 28, 2012

I'm growing Zephyr for the first time this year- looking forward to it!!!

meadowyck · June 28, 2012

sounds like it would be in a veggie lasagna. Looks good.

Fusion_power · June 28, 2012

Zephyr is arguably one of the best summer squashes available. I grow it every year and sell several hundred plants to local gardeners. Once they grow it, they rarely go back to regular yellow squash.

DarJones

**nctomatoman** · June 29, 2012

Zephyr lover here as well - though the first year I grew it, I got a cousa looking squash mixed in. I also find that it tends to "run" a bit more than typical - so takes up a bit more room.

Just a wonderful squash!

chalstonsc · June 30, 2012

Does the vine borer get it?

buckeyegirl · June 30, 2012

Yes, it does run...and I have found that the cucumber beetles have arrived and they seem to prefer it over my other squash...so trying to keep them in control. I am thinking about sowing another couple zephyr plants soo, to extend my season!

Jayc · July 1, 2012

Great to read such good reports as it is my first year with these and still waiting on the first fruit.

chancethegardener · July 3, 2012

I first saw this variety in a video uploaded by Craig (I think it was on Youtube). Although I don't favor hybrids much, I fell in love with its beautiful color pattern. I tried to grow it but it wasn't very successful for me. One reason might be the heavy rains. Fruits rotted on the plant. And oh yes, it is a runner that one plant invaded one whole raised bed.

Vespertino · March 29, 2014

I'm growing this for the first time this year too

What size container is recommended for these? I don't have any raised beds ready for this year so I'm going the grow-bag route. I have 6 seeds started (they haven't peeked out of the soil yet), but I was wondering how many I should grow for a family of two. I'd love some summer squash with dinner, but I don't want to be up to my eyeballs in extra squash. I was wondering if anyone had advice on how many plants I should aim for.

Thanks!

Vespertino · December 28, 2014

After growing them this year I have a little bit of a review on the mighty Zephyr.

I think those who like a sweet yellow summer squash will not be disappointed. The zephyrs were very sweet and tender when cooked, and the flavor is consistent. I should note that I never let them get bigger than 6 inches long before picking them, so I can't vouch for the flavor and texture of squashes allowed to grow larger then that.

However I did have some trouble with the dual color of the squashes developing as pictured. I did get a few that were pale green/mottled all over the squash instead of yellow top and green tip.

This was a very productive squash, even though I used a planter that was way too small. There were plenty of male blossoms to pick and use for deep-fried squash blossoms, I had so many I had to give some away!

Another plus, they weren't all that spiney, so I didn't injure myself too much when harvesting the goods.

Disaster struck with whiteflies as a vector for mosaic virus, which hit my squash plants very hard. However, with some diatomaceous earth and care I got rid of the flies and the squash bounced back when I thought they were as good as dead. So I'd give them another point for endurance. When the weather climbed into the high 90's they started to wither and die, I'm not sure if they didn't make it because they're not meant for weather that hot, or if the mosaic virus and whitefly infestation weakened the plant in the long run.

While the zephyrs are great summer squash, I realized I'm not a huge fan of summer squash so I won't be growing them again. Nothing wrong with the squash, just a personal preference when it comes to flavor. I grew Striatta Di Italiana (a striped zucchini) from Baker Creek, which had a nutty, complex flavor. I found myself preferring those over zephyr squash, so I'll be growing more of those instead of the zephyrs. The striattas were spiney as heck, but they were soooo yummy making them worth every cut and nick.

June 28, 2012	#3
meadowyck Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: Brooksville, FL Posts: 1,001	sounds like it would be in a veggie lasagna. Looks good. __________________ Jan “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” -Theodore Roosevelt

June 29, 2012	#5
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	Zephyr lover here as well - though the first year I grew it, I got a cousa looking squash mixed in. I also find that it tends to "run" a bit more than typical - so takes up a bit more room. Just a wonderful squash! __________________ Craig

June 28, 2012	#2
gryffin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 229	I'm growing Zephyr for the first time this year- looking forward to it!!!

June 28, 2012	#4
Fusion_power Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,250	Zephyr is arguably one of the best summer squashes available. I grow it every year and sell several hundred plants to local gardeners. Once they grow it, they rarely go back to regular yellow squash. DarJones

June 30, 2012	#6
chalstonsc Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: sc Posts: 339	Does the vine borer get it?

June 30, 2012	#7
buckeyegirl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 30	Yes, it does run...and I have found that the cucumber beetles have arrived and they seem to prefer it over my other squash...so trying to keep them in control. I am thinking about sowing another couple zephyr plants soo, to extend my season!

July 1, 2012	#8
Jayc Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: UK Posts: 319	Great to read such good reports as it is my first year with these and still waiting on the first fruit.

July 3, 2012	#9
chancethegardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: WV Posts: 604	I first saw this variety in a video uploaded by Craig (I think it was on Youtube). Although I don't favor hybrids much, I fell in love with its beautiful color pattern. I tried to grow it but it wasn't very successful for me. One reason might be the heavy rains. Fruits rotted on the plant. And oh yes, it is a runner that one plant invaded one whole raised bed.

March 29, 2014	#10
Vespertino Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Southlake, TX Posts: 743	I'm growing this for the first time this year too What size container is recommended for these? I don't have any raised beds ready for this year so I'm going the grow-bag route. I have 6 seeds started (they haven't peeked out of the soil yet), but I was wondering how many I should grow for a family of two. I'd love some summer squash with dinner, but I don't want to be up to my eyeballs in extra squash. I was wondering if anyone had advice on how many plants I should aim for. Thanks!

December 28, 2014	#11
Vespertino Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Southlake, TX Posts: 743	After growing them this year I have a little bit of a review on the mighty Zephyr. I think those who like a sweet yellow summer squash will not be disappointed. The zephyrs were very sweet and tender when cooked, and the flavor is consistent. I should note that I never let them get bigger than 6 inches long before picking them, so I can't vouch for the flavor and texture of squashes allowed to grow larger then that. However I did have some trouble with the dual color of the squashes developing as pictured. I did get a few that were pale green/mottled all over the squash instead of yellow top and green tip. This was a very productive squash, even though I used a planter that was way too small. There were plenty of male blossoms to pick and use for deep-fried squash blossoms, I had so many I had to give some away! Another plus, they weren't all that spiney, so I didn't injure myself too much when harvesting the goods. Disaster struck with whiteflies as a vector for mosaic virus, which hit my squash plants very hard. However, with some diatomaceous earth and care I got rid of the flies and the squash bounced back when I thought they were as good as dead. So I'd give them another point for endurance. When the weather climbed into the high 90's they started to wither and die, I'm not sure if they didn't make it because they're not meant for weather that hot, or if the mosaic virus and whitefly infestation weakened the plant in the long run. While the zephyrs are great summer squash, I realized I'm not a huge fan of summer squash so I won't be growing them again. Nothing wrong with the squash, just a personal preference when it comes to flavor. I grew Striatta Di Italiana (a striped zucchini) from Baker Creek, which had a nutty, complex flavor. I found myself preferring those over zephyr squash, so I'll be growing more of those instead of the zephyrs. The striattas were spiney as heck, but they were soooo yummy making them worth every cut and nick.