Here’s a fun, weird tip: you can try the squash tickle test. Gently rub your finger along the blossom end (the tip opposite the stem). If you feel a faint prickle or bump, it’s still young and perfect. If it’s smooth as a baby’s bottom, it might be getting a little past its prime—still edible, but less exciting.
This isn’t a scientific method, but it’s a great party trick to impress your gardening friends. “Oh, you don’t know the squash tickle test? You’re missing out!”
Don’t Overthink It: Pick Early and Often
Yellow squash is like an eager puppy: it grows fast. In hot weather, you might go from flower to ready-to-pick in just 3 to 5 days. Yes, days! That means you need to check your plant every single day once the flowers start blooming.
Here’s the best part: the more you pick, the more the plant produces. It’s a beautiful, generous cycle. Pick a squash, and the plant says, “Thanks, I’ll make two more!” It’s like a squash vending machine, except you have to do the harvesting, and there’s no button for “extra cheese.”
