Longue De Nice Squash -BC

Description

Longue de Nice is an heirloom Cucurbita moschata squash from Provence, France. It yields long, curved fruits—up to 1 m (3 ft) in length—starting pale green and maturing into ochre-orange tones, with a bulbous base and firm, orange flesh that offers a subtly sweet, musky flavor. Young fruits can be used like zucchini.

When to Plant in the UAE

• Direct Sowing (Recommended): Sow seeds outdoors in September. 

This aligns perfectly with the UAE’s long growing season and provides enough time for full fruit development.

Planting & Care Tips

• Sun & Soil: Choose a sunny location (6–8 hrs daily) with well-draining, fertile soil, enriched with compost or aged manure.

• Planting:

  • Direct Sowing: Plant seeds 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep in mounds or hills spaced roughly 1–1.2 m apart (3–4 ft), placing 2–3 seeds per mound and thinning to the strongest seedling. Mounds aid drainage and soil warming.

  • Indoor to Transplant: Sow 2–3 weeks early, moving seedlings when both soil and air are warm.

• Watering & Mulching: Keep soil deeply and consistently moist, especially during flowering and fruit set. Use heavy mulch to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.

• Spacing & Growth Habit: Plants are vigorous—either allow vines to sprawl or trellis them to save space.

• Fertilization: Apply monthly feeding with organic fertilizer to support healthy vine and fruit development.

• Harvesting:

  • Young Harvest: Pick tender squash young like zucchini.

  • Mature Harvest: When fruits reach full size, wait until their skin hardens and the stem dries and cracks before harvesting.

  • For long storage, cure mature fruits in a warm, dry spot for ~10 days, then store in a cool, dry, ventilated area.