Avocado Squash - Early Bulam, a vining summer squash

Mikesgardn 4/17/2022, 5:13 pm

In my garden, I like to try something new every year, and this year I am trying avocado squash. I've tried regular summer squash, but it is always hit and miss due to the vine borer. But this squash is made to grow vertically, and it is very resistant to the borer. I'm curious if anybody else has grown this, and what spacing they used? Thanks in advance!
Mike

**sanderson** 4/18/2022, 4:17 am

Mike, I had to do a little searching to find avocado squash. Early Bulam, a vining summer squash. Hybrid with no seed or if seeds, they can't be saved. The information from each seed company seemed to be cut and paste, with no mention of SVB resistance. If it truly is a vigorous vining plant, then 1 plant per 1 or 2 sq foot if trained vertically. I'm aggressive with planting winter squash and gourds and plant 1/sq ft sandwiching them between trellises every foot. I don't know if it has tendrils like winter squash or if you have to tie/clip to the trellis.

Looking forward to your summer review.

OhioGardener 4/18/2022, 11:33 am

I have never seen nor heard of the Avocado Squash, Mike, but one thing I have learned about summer squash over the years is to out-wait the SVB. If I delay starting the summer squash until after the SVB has already emerged from the soil and moved on to neighbors gardens, they tend to not to bother my plants.

I did have one of the Yellow Zucchini Squash plants attacked by the SVB last year, though, and I experimented with removing the larva to save the plant. It worked much better than I expected. I made a short video on the success of it. Very Happy

Mikesgardn 4/19/2022, 9:32 am

This website has some info and pictures about avocado squash. It does say that it is somewhat resistant to squash borers. And looking at the pictures, I think I shouldn't plant any denser than 1 per 2 SF.
https://www.kindground.org/cultivate-nourishment/avocado-squash

**sanderson** 4/19/2022, 3:55 pm

Decent article. It does highlight that saving the seeds will not produce the same. But, that is the nature of hybrids. Looking forward to this summer when you post an update.

**Scorpio Rising** 4/29/2022, 1:35 pm

OG, like when do you delay your squash until?

Soose 4/29/2022, 7:11 pm

OhioGardener wrote:I did have one of the Yellow Zucchini Squash plants attacked by the SVB last year, though, and I experimented with removing the larva to save the plant. It worked much better than I expected. I made a short video on the success of it.

I didn't know you have a YouT. channel, OhioGardener! Excellent video, enjoyed the music, subscribed. Thanks!

OhioGardener 4/30/2022, 8:54 am

Scorpio Rising wrote:OG, like when do you delay your squash until?

The SVB susceptible squash plants, like summer squash, Red Kuri, etc., I wait until the the 2nd week of July to plant. All of the SVB larva are out of the ground by then and no longer a threat.

The plants resistant to the SVB, like the Butternut, Cushaw, and Banana squash, I plant in mid-June.

Mikesgardn 8/27/2022, 5:22 pm

Well, the avocado squash is a success! It grew very quickly on the trellis, and no signs of vine borer so far. The picture shows what I picked today, one is baseball sized, the other is softball sized.

Avocado Squash - Early Bulam, a vining summer squash Avocad10

Soose 8/27/2022, 5:25 pm

Mikesgardn wrote:Well, the avocado squash is a success! It grew very quickly on the trellis, and no signs of vine borer so far. The picture shows what I picked today, one is baseball sized, the other is softball sized.

So what's it taste and look like?

Sponsored content

Avocado Squash - Early Bulam, a vining summer squash

Avocado Squash - Early Bulam, a vining summer squash

Re: Avocado Squash - Early Bulam, a vining summer squash

Re: Avocado Squash - Early Bulam, a vining summer squash

Re: Avocado Squash - Early Bulam, a vining summer squash

Re: Avocado Squash - Early Bulam, a vining summer squash

Re: Avocado Squash - Early Bulam, a vining summer squash

Re: Avocado Squash - Early Bulam, a vining summer squash

Re: Avocado Squash - Early Bulam, a vining summer squash

Re: Avocado Squash - Early Bulam, a vining summer squash

Re: Avocado Squash - Early Bulam, a vining summer squash

Re: Avocado Squash - Early Bulam, a vining summer squash


	Hello Guest! Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum. There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.