Plant Characteristics

Summer squash belong to the cucumber family (Curcurbitaceae).  There are two major categories of squash: summer and winter squash.  Within each group there are several varieties.  Each variety differs in shape, colour, size, and flavour.  For all squash the entire vegetable, including its flesh, seeds, and skin, is edible.  In addition, some varieties of squash produce edible flowers. Unlike winter squash, summer squash are more fragile and cannot be stored for long periods. Varieties of summer squash include:

• Zucchini: The best known.  Zucchini is narrow with smooth, thin skin that is either green or yellow in colour and can be striped or speckled.  It's flesh is tender and creamy and features numerous seeds.  Its flowers are edible and are often used in French and Italian cooking.
• Crookneck and straightneck squash:  Both of these summer squashes have creamy white flesh and yellow skins.  Crookneck squash is partially straight with a swan-like neck.  Straightneck squash have been bred from their crookneck cousin.
• Pattypan squash:  This saucer-shaped squash features skins that can be either pale green or golden yellow in colour. Its cream colored flesh is denser and slightly sweeter than that of the zucchini.

Sourced from:  http://www.sharecare.com/question/what-is-summer-squash

Storage

Summer squash is fragile and should be handled with care.  Summer squash will keep for up to 7 days when stored unwashed in a perforated plastic bag in the refrigerator crisper. 

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Freezing (great for baking)

For information on how to freeze summer squash go to:  http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/how/freeze/squash_summer.html

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