A Closer Look at Patty Pan Squash Plants and How to Grow Them

If you love summer gardening and usually stick to zucchini and yellow crookneck squash, why not add some interest to your patch with delightful looking and delicious scallop squash?

Also known as patty pan squash, these beautifully shaped cucurbits take this common name from the scallop-edged pans that were intended for making small cakes or pies.

They grow on compact bush plants rather than vines, taking up less room in the garden than some of the other summer squash varieties.

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This is the same species responsible for many other edibles of the summer garden – including pumpkins, crooknecks, straightnecks, acorn squash, vegetable marrows, zucchini, and many ornamental gourds!

In this article you’ll learn everything you need to know about growing patty pan squash, from seed to harvest to plate.

Also known as granny, custard, button, schwoughksie, or pattypan squash, as well as cymlings, scallopini, or patissons, these veggies are native to the Americas, and made their way to Europe in the 1500s.

These days these flying saucer shaped veggies are rare to find for purchase, even at farmer’s markets, so if you want to enjoy cooking with them, you’ll likely need to grow your own!

Common name(s): Custard marrow, cymling, patisson, scallopini, button, custard, granny, patty pan, pattypan, scallop, or schwoughksie squash

Boasting some of the most beautiful cultivars, patty pan squash have an old fashioned appearance, combined with a familiar flavor and succulent texture.

Patty pan is a warm season crop, so wait until after the last average spring frost date in your area before direct sowing or transplanting to the garden.

Make sure to allow three to four feet per plant when growing in rows. For square foot gardens, you’ll need nine square feet per planting.

How to Sow Indoors

When possible, opt to direct sow rather than growing starts to transplant.

However, if you have a short growing season, you may need to start seeds indoors two to four weeks before the last frost date.

• Fill pots nearly full with moist growing medium, leaving a half inch to an inch gap at the top.
• Poke a hole into the center of each pot or tray cell, then insert one seed one half to one inch deep.
• Squeeze the growing medium closed over the seed and pat to ensure good contact between the seed and the medium.
• Place the pots or tray near a window where plants will be exposed to six to eight hours of direct sunlight after they germinate, or under a grow lamp, and keep them at a temperature of 70 to 95°F.
• Keep the growing medium moist. Expect germination in five to 10 days.

After your last frost date, harden off the seedlings and transplant into the garden.

Whether you’ve grown your own seedlings indoors or purchased nursery starts, here’s how to put them in the ground:

• Prepare the growing area by removing weeds or faded vegetation from last year’s garden.
• Water the planting area the day before transplanting.
• Dig a hole in the garden soil that is twice as wide and deep as the nursery pot.
• For seedlings in biodegradable pots, break off the rim of the pot and discard, then insert the pot into the hole. For those in plastic pots, carefully remove the plant from the pot without disturbing the roots, and insert the root ball into the hole.
• Replace soil around the root ball but take care not to cover the crown of the plant.

Water in well, and irrigate daily for the next week if conditions are dry.

Growing patty pan squash is much the same as growing other summer squash.

Here’s what you’ll need to know:

Patty pan squash are warm season crops – that means they won’t tolerate frost or freezing temperatures.

Sow or transplant after all risk of frost has passed, and harvest before frost returns in fall – or use a floating row cover to extend the growing season.

Like other cucurbits, these summer squash plants need a full sun location in the garden.

Situate the growing patch where it will receive at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight per day.

Patty pan squash grows happily in typical loamy garden soil, thriving in a pH range of 5.8 to 6.8.

Have you ever had a volunteer squash plant pop up in your compost pile?

Take that as a cue – these vegetables love compost, so grow your patty pan crop in compost-enriched garden soil.

As a general rule, water patty pans infrequently, but deeply.

You may have heard that scallop squash plants need one to two inches of water a week – and that’s true, but only if the temperatures are in the 70s.

How often you’ll need to water depends not just on the temperature, but also on how sunny it is.

In dry, hot weather, you may need to irrigate two or three times a week.

If you work compost into your soil before sowing or transplanting, you may not need to add additional fertilizer later in the growing season.

However, if you’re feeling motivated, it won’t hurt to side dress with some additional compost as the patty pan squash plant spreads.

A couple of handfuls, worked into the edge of the soil will help encourage vigorous growth.

Are you ready to think about which type of scallop squash to grow? Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

‘Benning’s Green Tint’ is an heirloom cultivar first introduced in Washington, DC, in 1914, that produces light green to creamy white fruits.

Needing just 52 days to reach maturity, ‘Benning’s Green Tint’ should be harvested at two to three inches wide.

Purchase packs of ‘Benning’s Green Tint’ in an assortment of sizes from High Mowing Organic Seeds.

A German heirloom, ‘Gelber Englischer’ produces fruits that are cream colored to lemon yellow, and are shaped rather irregularly.

This variety is best harvested at two to four inches wide, and needs 55 to 60 days to reach maturity.

You’ll find packs of 20 ‘Gelber Englischer’ seeds available at Botanical Interests.

‘Jaune et Verte’ is a yellow and green patty pan cultivar with radiating stripes that is best harvested at two to three inches wide.

This French heirloom is slower to mature than some of the others, requiring 60 to 90 days to produce fruit.

Pick up ‘Jaune et Vert’ seeds in a selection of pack sizes from Eden Brothers.

Find the right variety for your garden with our supplemental guide, “13 of the Best Varieties of Patty Pan (Scallop) Squash.”

When growing patty pan squash, keep the area around the bushes free from weeds, especially when they are young and trying to get established.

However, after the plants are a bit bigger, they will hold their own and won’t be bothered if you get behind on weeding chores.

In the meantime, one way to help prevent weeds from growing is to apply mulch around plants.

And there are many different materials you can use for mulch, such as leaves or straw.

Managing Pests and Disease

I’m sure you’re looking forward to plucking that first patty pan squash off the bush.

But to ensure an abundant harvest, you’ll also need to be on the lookout for pests and diseases.

Insects aren’t the only types of unwanted visitors you might find eating your patty pan squash plants:

If there are deer in your area, your garden will be at risk from them unless you let them know they are not invited.

A deer fence can keep these four legged browsers away from your crop – but there are other preventative actions you can take as well, as detailed in our guide.

Rabbits only seldom choose to nibble on these plants, but if you’ve previously had visits from these mammals to your garden, you might want to protect the plants.

Expect the same types of critters to frequent your patty pan squash plants as the pests that typically target zucchini.

Here are a few potentially bothersome insects to look out for:

Aphids are tiny insects sometimes found on the bottoms of leaves and on stems, sucking nutrients from the plant.

These pests also leave trails of honeydew behind, which in turn can cause fungal problems.

Often, an aphid infestation can be controlled simply by spraying them off the plant with a strong jet of water from a garden hose. Repeat weekly until the aphids are gone.

Squash bugs are true bugs that bite into the leaves of cucurbit plants, damaging the tissue, and causing them to wilt, and eventually die.

Manual control is a slightly time consuming but effective method of removing these pests.

Check the undersides of the leaves for eggs, and remove and destroy them when you find them.

The adults are easy to spot when you water – watch for the bugs scurrying away from the plant, and dispatch them if you can catch them. When squished, they will produce a very strong odor.

And also keep your eye out for nymphs that are bright gray or light green with spindly black legs.

Does a cloud of white flies greet you when you enter your garden patch? Sounds like you might have a whitefly problem.

In spite of the name, they are not actual flies, these sucking insects are related to scale and mealybugs.

And as part of an organic approach to protecting crops from pests, consider using companion plants.

In addition to pests, you’ll also want to be aware of a few diseases that affect patty pan squash:

Have you admired a developing patty pan fruit, only to come back the next day and find it browning and half rotted?

Welcome to your first experience with blossom-end rot, a condition caused by a lack of calcium.

This condition affects patty pans in the same way that it does zucchini.

If you have noticed yellow or light green angular shaped spots on leaves, accompanied by a downy fuzz, then you’re probably looking at downy mildew!

This fungal-like disease thrives in humid conditions, and can be prevented by watering at the base of the plant instead of overhead, such as with sprinklers.

Are you seeing a white powdery substance on the leaves of your patty pan plant?

Powdery mildew, a fungal disease that spreads in humid conditions, is likely to blame. It’s very common in the summer garden and can be treated organically.

Here’s the fun part! When the fruits are about two to three inches wide, it’s time to harvest.

When the size is right, grab a clean knife or pair of garden pruners and cut the stem from the bush.

Why should you pick fruits when they are so small?

As they grow larger, the seeds inside will become tough. You can still eat the fruits at this later stage, but you will want to remove the hard seeds from the interior first.

If you grow more patty pan squash than you can eat at once, you might want to consider preserving some of your harvest.

Freezing is of course one option. If you want to freeze the raw vegetable, take the time to blanch it first for the best results.

Canning these vegetables is no longer considered a safe preservation option due to the risk of botulism – unless of course you pickle the fruits in an acidic brine!

If you need guidance for making pickles from your patty pans, head to our sister site Foodal, where you can substitute patty pan squash in the recipe for bread and butter zucchini pickles.

Finally, don’t overlook the wonders of dehydration. Dried garden vegetables can provide ingredients for winter soups or be transformed into fun snacks.

Patty pan squash can be treated like crooknecks or zucchini, but take every opportunity to highlight the unusual shape of these cucurbits – such as stuffing them and baking in the oven.

Need some guidance to get started? Substitute your patty pan squash in this recipe for vegan stuffed zucchini with millet, tomatoes, and olives, at our sister site Foodal.

Stuffed scallop squash is a nourishing meal that will help warm you up.

On the other hand, if you’re trying to beat the heat and looking for something a bit lighter, why not pull out a box of pasta?

Grilled zucchini and white bean pasta is just the thing to celebrate the flavors of summer while keeping cool – just substitute with scallop squash and use this recipe from Foodal.

Or how about portobello patty pan squash tacos? Just use your patty pans to replace the zucchini in this delicious recipe also from Foodal.

Discover How To Grow Patty Pan Squash

FAQ

Does patty pan squash need a trellis?

How big does a patty pan squash plant get?

A compact, summer squash cultivar growing to 60cm (2ft) high and 90cm (3ft) across, producing flattened, round squashes reminiscent of flying saucers, in …

What not to plant with patty pan squash?

Plants to Avoid Near Pattypan Squash

Potatoes are a no-go when planting alongside Pattypan squash. They compete fiercely for nutrients and space, which can lead to stunted growth and attract unwanted pests.

What is the difference between yellow squash and patty pan squash?