Plant Family: Cucurbit Family

Zucchini and yellow squash are usually eaten cooked and can be used in a variety of side dishes, often steamed or sautéed.  Zucchini noodles are a trendy alternative to pasta. Summer squash comes in many varieties, but the most common are zucchini and yellow squash.  Zucchini and yellow squash grow in a shrub shape, rather… Read more »

The flesh of hard-sided squash is cooked before being eaten and is used for everything from main dishes to deserts!  These “winter squash” are a common fall food item. Hard-sided squashes come in many shapes, colors, and sizes and are a valuable crop because they ripen later in the season and store well over winter.

The “meat” of the pumpkin is cooked before eaten.  Pumpkin is used in both sweet and savory dishes – everything from pies to soups!  The seeds can also be roasted and eaten for a healthy snack. The orange pumpkins that we are familiar with for jack-o-lanterns are just one of the many colors and shapes… Read more »

Cucumbers are usually eaten raw, simply sliced or in a salad.  Cucumbers are also commonly used to make pickles, though many other vegetables can be used for pickling.