VegetableSquash
Total Eclipse Squash
Total Eclipse is an F1 hybrid summer squash that delivers prolific harvests of strikingly dark green scallop-shaped fruit in just 40 to 49 days. This Cucurbita pepo thrives across hardiness zones 3 through 13, making it adaptable to gardeners from cold climates to warm regions. The compact vine habit combined with heavy yields in warm conditions means you'll have tender, mild-flavored squash ready to harvest young and often, with the plant reblooming steadily throughout the season.
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
Spacing
36
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
3-13
Size
30in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
The dark green, deeply scalloped edges of Total Eclipse fruit make it instantly recognizable and strikingly ornamental on the vine. Its compact vine structure yields heavily despite taking up minimal space, and the tender white flesh harvested young offers the best texture for both raw and cooked preparations. F1 hybrid vigor means consistent performance and uniform fruit production, while the 49-day maturity puts summer squash on your table faster than many traditional varieties.
Common Uses
Total Eclipse squash shines when harvested at a young, tender stage and prepared simply to highlight its mild, delicate white flesh. Sauté thin slices whole, steam for a light side dish, or cube for summer ratatouille. The scalloped shape and dark green color make it attractive raw in salads when sliced thin, and it's forgiving enough to use in any recipe calling for summer squash, from pasta dishes to stir-fries. Young fruit can be eaten skin and all, making it convenient for quick weeknight meals.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant seedlings outdoors only after all danger of frost has passed and soil temperature reaches at least 60°F, ideally warmer. Space transplants 36 inches apart with 48 inches between rows.
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds into warm soil after the last spring frost, when soil temperature is consistently above 60°F. Sow seeds 1 inch deep in hills or rows.
Harvesting
Begin harvesting Total Eclipse squash 40 to 49 days after sowing, when fruit is young and tender with a glossy, deep green skin. Harvest at 3 to 4 inches in diameter for the best texture and flavor; waiting longer results in tougher, less desirable flesh. Cut fruit from the vine with a sharp knife rather than pulling, and harvest frequently to encourage the plant to continue producing throughout the season. Pick regularly every few days as the vine reaches peak productivity in warm conditions.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Cucurbita pepo
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Cucurbita
Native Status
L48 (NI)PR (I)CAN (W)
History & Origin
“Total Eclipse is a modern F1 hybrid developed to combine the visual appeal of pattypan squash with the practical breeding priorities of commercial and home growers: compact growth, heavy productivity, and disease resistance. As a hybrid variety, it represents the deliberate cross of two parent lines selected for their complementary traits, resulting in plants with increased vigor and consistency compared to open-pollinated types. The development reflects decades of squash breeding focused on extending the harvest season and reducing the sprawling vine space traditionally required by summer squash.”