How to Grow, Harvest, Store, and Prepare Squash Blossoms

By Matt Gibson and Erin Marissa Russell

Squash blossoms and zucchini flowers are the edible and incredibly tasty bloom of both summer mash and zucchini plants . The flowers produced by wintertime squash and pumpkin industrial plant can be used in the place of summertime squash or zucchini blossom , as the bloom are similar in every distinguishable path : specifically in size , shape , coloring , and flavor .

Squash blossoms are not just a tasty treat , however . Although they are n’t a substantial food , they check a comparatively high amount of the vitamins and minerals mankind postulate in their diet . Squash blossoms are significantly in high spirits in vitamin C and A , and also hold no small amount of calcium and iron . Each loving cup - sized dish out clocks in at just five calories , so there ’s no need to concern about watching how many you eat ( unless they ’re fried and stuffed with cheese , which is really the most common way these heyday are prepared and service ) .

bee pollinator of vegetable flower

You might be inquire why people eat squash blossoms instead of rent the peak rise more yield . Or maybe you ’re imagine that it would be well to leave all of the blossoms on the plant so that they will provide more mash for you to harvest . Well , luckily for squash racquets blossom aficionados , not all of the blooms on your flora are destined to turn into fruit .

Squash heyday arrive in both male and and female form , and only the female produce squeeze . The males are around just to cross-pollinate the females . The first few flowers that toss off up each season are male , and these can be glean once they give maturity , as there wo n’t be any females around for them to pollinate yet . It ’s a honest idea to go away a few males around to pollinate other distaff efflorescence , but typically , more than enough manly peak will sprout up on your squash plants along with the female buds to wield this task and satisfy your plate .

As long as you keep a few of the male flowers in your garden during pollenation time , your squash vine plants should have no problem producing hatful of fruit . The common penchant and testimonial is to glean mostly male flowers , leaving only a handful of manlike prime on your plant to pollinate the female . However , distaff flowers can also be harvested , and sometimes you may snag them when a baby squash is still attached to the base of the bloom for an extra tasty dainty .

squash blossom blooming

Three are considerably more male bloom than there are distaff efflorescence on squash plants , and the males grow all over the flora , while the females are relegated to only the central stems . When bee chit-chat the manlike heyday , they get a cluster of pollen on their little hairy legs and keep to transport it to the female peak , dropping pollen particles into the center of the female squash blossoms , which pollinates them and allows them to produce yield . Once the female flowers are pollinated , the manlike flowers are no longer needed , so it ’s dead okay to gently remove them from the plant and practice them in recipes .

How To Grow Squash Blossoms

gardener in USDA hardiness zone three through ten can grow both summertime and winter crush variety show . For those living in expanse with short growing seasons , we recommend the bush - style varieties . Summer and winter squash plants have much the accurate same growing condition requisite , only differing in the time they take to mature . Either type can be take off indoors three to four weeks before the last frost in your area so they can get a head start on the growing time of year .

Plant mash in a location that incur full sunlight exposure and in a bed composed of well - draining , humus - rich soil that ischock full of finished compostand kept slightly moist at all times . get the leaf of your squash plant wet can run to a wide regalia of disease issues , so forfend overhead tearing and water system at the fundament of each flora , or use a drip irrigation organization to avert wet the foliage .

render one to one and a one-half column inch of water per hebdomad , though more water may be necessary during especially ironical or hot weather condition . Add alight stratum of constitutive mulchto your squash bed . No more than one to one and a one-half inch of mulch is needed to deter locoweed and help amend moisture keeping .

zucchini squash blossoms

Squash are heavy feeders , so be certain to pretreat your beds by dig lot of compost into your squash beds in the fall for the upcoming spring time of year , or if you lack the probability in autumn , just immix slew of compost in during the growing time of year or else . You should also give your squash an extra nutrient hike by water your plants withdiluted compost teaonce or twice a month . Squash plant can also do good greatly from a continuous exit gritty fertilizer .

Move your seedlings outdoors or direct sow into your beds once the soil temperatures contact 70 point Fahrenheit . Plant your squash racquets seeds one half inch to one inch rich , and reduce down to the healthiest - look seedlings to give each plant 36 in of space in every focal point . Squash can also be planted in small hills or mounds raise approximately one foot high up and spaced at least six foot apart . On each Alfred Hawthorne , plant four to five seed two or three inches inscrutable and three to four inches apart .

How to Harvest Squash Blossoms

In the middle of the day , when your squash plant ’s prime are open , habituate a sharp , clean tongue to remove squash racquets blossoms from their stems , dilute the bow one column inch below the bloom . slit off male squash racquets blossoms , and leave a few inches of shank for novel prime to grow from . slice up the female flowers off either above or below the fruit , depending on the demand of the recipe you are live on to apply them for .

The absolute majority of the blossoms that you glean should be manlike , but go forth several manlike flowers on each plant throughout the develop season to keep the distaff blossoms cross-pollinate . If your plant are bring about vigorously and you have plenty of squash racquets , it ’s not a defective musical theme to reap more blossoms than you normally would .

How to Prepare Squash Blossoms

Before you start to cook your squash racquets blossoms using the formula you ’ve chosen , there ’s a bit of prep sour you ’ll need to do to get them ready . Handle the blossoms softly throughout this process , as they are quite fragile . No matter how you select to serve them , squash blossom are eat whole , so you ’ll want to carry on the beautiful flower in all its glory .

First , ( after wash your hand , of course ) , utilize your fingers to delicately pry launch the petals so you may reach the bloom ’s DoI . If it ’s sealed up especially tightly , you may not be capable to do this by helping hand . In that cause , you could ( carefully ) use tweezers or a pair of nail scissors to help get the blossom to open up .

Remove the pistil and the stamen that you ’ll find inside , and throw them aside . The pistil is the farseeing stem - like piece inside the flush , and the thin stamens surround it . dress the flower off the squash rackets , if it is still attach . Most formula wo n’t use the long theme some blooms will have , so unless yours includes the stems , clip that off as well . Rinse the efflorescence off under a gentle trickle of cool pee from the spigot , and lay them on paper towels to dry out .

Stuffed or fry squash blossoms are the classic preparation , so those are the most common recipes you ’ll find . Other frequent method of serving squash flower include fulfill quesadillas or pupusas with them , add them raw to salads , or using them as a topping or garnish for pizza and pasta .

There are other formula out there with more unique and originative way to eat squash flower , too — not to mention , you’re able to substitute squash rackets blossoms for courgette blossom in any recipes for those that strike your partiality . We ’ve pile up a few of our favourite from around the web and listed them below for you to peruse . try on a few of the unity that count best to you , and you ’ll soon have a whole repertoire of ways to serve these delicacy from the garden .

Baked Squash Blossoms ( Dolmas Style)fromFeasting at Home[https://www.feastingathome.com / squash - blossoms/ ]

squash blooms in garden with text overlay squash blossoms how to grow harvest store and prepare

Blistered Squash BlossomsfromSunset Magazine[https://www.sunset.com / formula / blistered - squash - efflorescence ]

Crab Salad Stuffed Squash Blossoms with Lemon Sabayon and Shaved Asparagus Saladfrom TableAgent

Crispy Squash Blossoms fill with Pulled Pork and Ricottafrom Food web [ https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/crispy-squash-blossoms-filled-with-pulled-pork-and-ricotta-recipe-2122429 ]

Fried Squash Blossomsfrom The Kitchn [ https://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-fried-squash-blossoms-57209 ]

Fried Squash Blossoms Stuffed with Crab and Mascarponefrom My Three Seasons [ https://www.mythreeseasons.com/fried-squash-blossoms-stuffed-with-crab-mascarpone/ ]

Goat Cheese stuff Squash Blossoms and Roasted Tomatoesfrom Eatentions on Food52 [ https://food52.com/recipes/37861-goat-cheese-stuffed-squash-blossoms-and-roasted-tomatoes ]

Linguine with Squash Blossoms and Lemon Cream Saucefrom Fine Cooking [ https://www.finecooking.com/recipe/linguine-with-squash-blossoms-and-lemon-cream-sauce ]

Oven Roast Zucchini Flowers Stuffed with Bacon , Mushroom , and Ricottafrom White on Rice Couple [ https://whiteonricecouple.com/recipes/stuffed-zucchini-flowers/ ]

Panko Crusted Baked Squash Blossoms with Garden Herb Ricottafrom Food to Glow[https://kelliesfoodtoglow.com/2025-02-11 / panko - crust - baked - squash - heyday - with - garden - herbaceous plant - ricotta/ ]

Pappardelle with Fresh Ricotta , Squash Blossoms , and Basil Oilfrom New York Times [ https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1014191-pappardelle-with-fresh-ricotta-squash-blossoms-and-basil-oil ]

Pappardelle with Zucchini Blossom Saucefrom Orangette[http://orangette.net/2006/07 / pasta - no - pomodoro/ ]

Pimiento Cheese Stuffed Squash Blossomsfrom My recipe [ https://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/pimiento-cheese-squash-blossoms ]

saute Squash Blossomsfrom Kitchen of Youth [ https://kitchenofyouth.com/sauteed-squash-blossoms/ ]

shaven Summer Squash Saladfrom Epicurious

[ https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/shaved-summer-squash-salad-365655 ]

Spring Vegetable Lasagna with Heirloom Tomato Bechamelfrom O&O Eats [ https://www.oandoeats.com/home/2025-03-27/spring-vegetable-lasagna ]

Squash Blossom and Garlic Scape Pastafrom Zest and Simmer [ https://www.zestandsimmer.com/squash-blossom-garlic-scape-pasta/ ]

Squash Blossom and Pancetta Pizzarom What ’s Gaby Cooking [ https://whatsgabycooking.com/squash-blossom-and-pancetta-pizza/ ]

mash Blossom Pasta with Feta Cheesefrom Black Pepper Chef [ https://blackpepperchef.com/2025-05-19/squash-blossoms-pasta-with-feta-cheese/ ]

Squash Blossom Quesadillasfrom Leite ’s Culinaria [ http://leitesculinaria.com/96315/recipes-squash-blossom-quesadillas.html ]

Squash Blossom Soup ( Crema de Flor de Calabaza)from Kitchen Konfidence [ https://www.kitchenkonfidence.com/2012/07/squash-blossom-soup-crema-de-flor-de-calabaza/ ]

Stuffed Squash Blossom Bruschettafrom My Recipes [ https://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/stuffed-squash-blossom-bruschetta ]

Waldy Malouf ’s Baked Squash Blossoms with Ricotta and Honey[https://nymag.com / restaurants / recipes / inseason/35787/ ]

Warm Squash Blossom Saladfrom The Local Palate [ https://thelocalpalate.com/recipes/warm-squash-blossom-salad/ ]

Zucchini and Squash Blossom Soufflesfrom New York Times [ https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016635-zucchini-and-squash-blossom-souffles ]

Zucchini and Zucchini Blossom Lasagna Blancafrom Sugar Love Spices [ https://www.sugarlovespices.com/zucchini-and-zucchini-blossom-lasagna-bianca/ ]

How To Store Squash Blossoms

Squash blossoms are best eaten quickly after picking , as they do n’t stack away well for long point of time . For best results , harvest your squash rackets blossoms the day you ’ll be preparing them to rust . When you need to store them for a forgetful while , trace a bake rag or plastic food storage bin with a dish towel or some paper towels , and spread the bloom out in a individual bed on the baking sheet . cover with charge plate wrapping and refrigerated , you could keep the flowers fresh for at least a mean solar day using this method .

Squash blossoms have a sluttish , airy grain and a mild squash - similar feel . If you are grow summer or winter squash , zucchini , or even pumpkin plants , the flowers that they produce should be harvested and enjoyed just as much as the fruits . Some gardeners love eating the blossoms even more than the crush itself . If you have never had a fresh squash blossom picked directly off the vine of a mature squash vine plant , there is no metre like the present tense to change that story .