Squash

Cucumbers, melons, zucchini, pumpkins, gourds and squashes are all related, belonging to the same family of vegetables. Some are used for decoration only, but most members of this family are edible.

The two main types are summer squash and winter squash. With year-round availability these terms are no longer very helpful but it is useful to know that summer squashes are, in general, small, quick-growing, with thin skins, soft seeds and pale flesh. Zucchini are characteristic of this type, as the pumpkin is the perfect example of the winter squash with its tough, much darker rind and flesh and hard seeds.