{"product_id":"squash-scallop-early-white","title":"SQUASH-SCALLOP-EARLY WHITE","description":"\u003ch2\u003eHow to grow Squash-Scallop-Early White\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003col\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eChoose a  position\u003cb\u003e \u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003ethat receives full sun (at least 6–8 hours daily) for strong growth and maximum fruit production.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003ePrepare rich, well-drained soil.  \u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eSquash are heavy feeders and perform best in fertile soil enriched with compost or well-rotted manure.  Ensure good drainage to prevent root issues.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eSow seeds \u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003edirectly into the garden after the risk of frost has passed, or start in pots for earlier planting. Transplant carefully to avoid root disturbance.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eSow \u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eseeds approximately 15 mm deep and cover lightly with fine soil. Keep soil consistently moist during germination.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eSpace plants \u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e 80–100 cm apart to give bush varieties room to spread and ensure good airflow.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eWater regularly keeping \u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003esoil evenly moist, especially during flowering and fruit development.  Avoid overwatering, as soggy soil can lead to disease.  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eFertilise \u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emonthly with a balanced fertiliser. Avoid excessive nitrogen, as this promotes leaf growth at the expense of fruit production.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eEncourage continuous harvesting by picking\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e fruit regularly while young and tender to promote ongoing production throughout the season.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eMonitor plant growth.  \u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eHealthy plants will produce quickly and consistently. Larger fruits can be left to mature if desired, but regular picking gives the best flavour and yield.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eAdditional growing tips\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eHarvest young for the best flavour - scallop squash are most tender and creamy when picked small (around 5–10 cm wide). Larger fruits are still edible but can become tougher.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eRegular picking is critical - leaving mature fruit on the plant will slow or even stop further production.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMale flowers appear first - don’t worry if early flowers don’t produce fruit.  Female flowers (with a small fruit behind them) follow shortly after.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003ePoor fruit set is often due to lack of pollination - if bees are scarce, you can hand-pollinate using a soft brush or by transferring pollen from male to female flowers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFlowers are edible - both male and female flowers can be harvested and used in cooking (stuffed or fried).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAvoid wetting the leaves - watering at soil level helps prevent powdery mildew, a common issue with squash.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMulching helps maintain even moisture and reduces stress on the plant during hot weather.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFruits can grow surprisingly large if left on the plant - as noted from this seed batch, a single squash can become big enough to feed a family.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBush varieties still spread - while more compact than vining types, they still need space for good airflow and healthy growth.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eSlight stress (less fertiliser, moderate watering) can improve fruiting - overly lush plants often produce fewer squash.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHeritage of Squash-Scallop-Early White\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eScallop squash, also known as pattypan squash, belongs to the species \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCucurbita pepo\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, which is native to North and Central America. These squashes have been cultivated for centuries, with early forms grown by Indigenous peoples long before European settlement.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\n\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe distinctive scalloped shape has made this type of squash a long-standing favourite in traditional kitchen gardens. ‘Early White’ is an heirloom-style variety selected for its pale colour, early maturity, and reliable productivity on compact bush plants.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\n\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOver time, it has remained popular with home gardeners for its unique appearance, mild flavour, and ease of growing, continuing to be a staple summer squash in gardens around the world.\u003c\/span\u003e","brand":"Direct Compost Solutions","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55020583289204,"sku":"SQS-EW","price":3.5,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1006\/7171\/7748\/files\/SQUASH_SCALLOP_EARLY_WHITE.jpg?v=1785570576","url":"https:\/\/directcompostsolutions.com\/products\/squash-scallop-early-white","provider":"DIRECT COMPOST SOLUTIONS","version":"1.0","type":"link"}