VegetableSquash
Early White Bush Scallop Squash
Early White Bush Scallop is a compact summer squash that delivers tender, mild flesh in just 50 to 59 days from planting. This open-pollinated heirloom produces distinctive flying-saucer-shaped fruits that start pale green and ripen to creamy white, making them as beautiful on the plate as they are easy to grow. The bush habit keeps plants contained at 24 to 30 inches tall, so it thrives in gardens, raised beds, and even containers where sprawling vines would be impractical. Hardy from zones 3 to 13 and requiring full sun, it's a summer staple that rewards gardeners with prolific harvests and the freedom to harvest young for the most tender texture.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-13
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Organic Matter
Growth Stats
30 in
Height
TypeBush
Spacing
36
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
3-13
Size
30in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
This is the squash for gardeners who thought they were done with vines. The compact bush form means no aggressive sprawl across the garden bed, making it perfect if you've struggled with traditional squash taking over. Fruits develop quickly (50 to 59 days) and stay tender and mild when harvested young, ideal for grilling, sautéing, or stuffing whole. The creamy white color when fully ripe makes each harvest visually striking, and the open-pollinated genetics mean you can save seeds year after year.
Common Uses
Harvest these young and tender for grilling, sautéing, or roasting whole. The mild, delicate flesh also takes well to stuffing, the scalloped edges lending themselves naturally to presentation. Many gardeners love slicing them thin raw for salads or blanching and freezing for winter use.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 3 to 4 weeks before your last spring frost date. Keep soil warm and moist until seedlings emerge, then provide bright light and warm conditions. Harden off seedlings before transplanting outdoors.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant once soil has warmed to at least 70°F and all frost danger has passed. Space plants 36 inches apart. Water gently after transplanting and keep soil consistently moist for the first week.
Direct Sow
Sow seeds directly into the garden after the last frost date when soil temperature reaches 70°F or higher. Plant in hills or rows, spacing plants 36 inches apart.
Harvesting
Begin harvesting when fruits reach 6 to 8 inches across and the skin is still tender enough to pierce with a fingernail (around 50 to 59 days from sowing). Fruits that start pale green will turn creamy white when fully mature, though many gardeners prefer to harvest before full ripeness for the most tender texture. Cut fruits from the vine with a sharp knife rather than twisting them, and continue picking regularly to encourage ongoing production throughout the summer.
Growing Calendar
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Cucurbita pepo
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Cucurbita
Growth Habit
Bush
Native Status
L48 (NI)PR (I)CAN (W)
History & Origin
“The Early White Bush Scallop belongs to the Patty Pan family of squashes, which have a long history in American gardens, particularly throughout the southeastern United States where they became garden staples. This cultivar represents the heirloom tradition of breeding for early maturity and compact growth, traits that made squash accessible to gardeners with limited space. As an open-pollinated variety, it carries forward the seed-saving heritage that defined home gardening before modern hybrids dominated the market.”