Botanical Interests
Black Beauty Summer Squash Seeds
Black Beauty Summer Squash Seeds
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Product Details
Product Details
Zucchini is one vegetable that just won't quit! This highly productive bush-type heirloom from the 1920s takes up little garden space. Dark green, shiny fruits with tender skin are very versatile in the kitchen. Can be steamed, sautéed, added to soups, omelets, and breads, made into relish, and eaten raw in salads or with dip. See inside of packet for zucchini relish recipe. 'Black Beauty' is a 1957 All-America Selections award winner.
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- Variety Info
- Sowing Info
- Growing Info
Variety Info
Days to Maturity: 55 days
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Type: Zucchini, Bush Squash, Summer Squash (Learn more)
Native: North America
Hardiness: Frost-sensitive annual
Exposure: Full sun
Plant Dimensions: Compact vines form a 2' tall by 3'–4' bush-type plant.
Variety Info: Best picked at 6"–8" long, has very dark green, shiny thin skin with creamy white interior, introduced to the U.S. in the 1920s.
Attributes: Frost Sensitive, Good for Containers
Sowing Info
When to Sow Outside: RECOMMENDED. 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date, and when soil temperature is 70°–85°F.
When to Start Inside: Not recommended except in very short growing seasons, 2 to 4 weeks before transplanting. Roots are sensitive to disturbance; sow in biodegradable pots that can be planted directly into the ground. Transplant when soil temperature is at least 60°F.
Days to Emerge: 5–10 days
Seed Depth: ½"–1"
Seed Spacing: 2–3 seeds per mound
Row Spacing: 3'–4'
Thinning: When 3 leaves, thin to 1 plant per mound
Growing Info
Harvesting: Harvest frequently to increase yield; squash seem to get monstrous overnight. While edible at almost any size, seeds are less developed in young fruit, therefore more tender. Using a knife or clippers, cut squash off including some of the stem. By including stem, the fruit is sealed and less likely to mold or dry out. Harvesting Blossoms: Look for male, non-fruit producing flowers that have long stems and harvest just before use (female flowers have a swollen mini-squash at the base of the flower and are on shorter stems).
- Wyn G.Verified ReviewerRated 5 out of 5 starsAug 5, 2025Garden Gold
Black Beauty summer squash has completely won me over this season. I started the seeds indoors, and they germinated fast and well, one of the best starts I've had in the garden. Transplanting was a breeze, and every seedling took off like it had somewhere to be. I planted them in mounds here in Zone 6a, and wow, are they thriving! The plants were vigorous from the start; fast-growing, resilient, and impressively productive. Week after week, I have picked uniform fruits with minimal fuss. If you’re looking for a summer squash that checks every box, quick germination, strong transplants, aesthetic appeal, and reliable harvest, Black Beauty is a garden gem. I’ll absolutely be growing it again next year!
Which best describes you as a gardener? ExpertEGEpic GardeningAug 12, 2025Hey Wyn G.,
Thank you so much for sharing your fantastic experience with our Black Beauty Summer Squash Seeds! We're absolutely thrilled to hear that these beauties have completely won you over this season and that you've had such incredible success from the very start. It sounds like you really nailed the growing process - from those fast germinating seeds indoors to those vigorous transplants that took off like they had somewhere to be! We love that you've been getting those perfect uniform harvests week after week in your Zone 6a garden. There's nothing quite like finding that perfect summer squash variety that just delivers on every level, and it sounds like Black Beauty has become your new garden gem! We're so excited that you're already planning to grow them again next year. Keep on growing 🌻️
- JulieVerified ReviewerRated 5 out of 5 starsJul 26, 2025They produce non-stop!
Great zucchini variety and I especially like that it doesn't have the spiny stems that hurt when harvesting! I tend to harvest every Saturday morning but this plant grows SO fast, I think I need to harvest twice a week. The group veggie photo shows the size of today's zucchini - the weekend before, it was probably 4" long. I also love that it grows upright and not sprawling all over the place, taking up too much space in my garden bed. You can see in the other photo that I let one go too long! It made five loaves of zucchini bread LOL
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateEGEpic GardeningJul 30, 2025Hey Julie,
Thank you so much for sharing your experience and photos! We're absolutely thrilled that the Black Beauty Summer Squash is producing so abundantly for you - what a wonderful problem to have! We love hearing that the upright growing habit is working so well in your garden space. Thanks for the chuckle about the one that got away and turned into five loaves of zucchini bread - that's definitely the silver lining of a missed harvest! Your success story will definitely help other gardeners know what to expect from this variety. Keep on growing 🌻️
- Mimi C.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 starsJul 6, 20245 Stars
Turned out to be eight ball squash seeds!!! Fine with me but check your pkgs! Hah! They're prolific and delicious
Which best describes you as a gardener? Intermediate - Esmeralda T.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 starsJun 21, 20245 Stars
Really good seeds
Only 5 days after planting I saw the little leaf coming out
Also their products are really good quality
- Lilli F.Rated 5 out of 5 starsJun 12, 20245 Stars
This is my first year gardening so I naively planted 4 of these and they have completely exceeded my expectations- I can’t keep up with how many HUGE and delicious zucchinis are coming out of the garden! They germinated so quickly and have been continuously growing since. A pro tip: you will likely need to self pollinate them to make sure you’re getting the most squash possible but it’s an easy task with a huge payoff. I will be using these seeds every year!
