What Is The Difference Between Yellow Straight Neck Squash & Yellow Zucchini?

Yellow straightneck squash and yellow zucchini, commonly referred to as summer squash, are cultivated varieties of the species Cucurbita pepo, of the family Cucurbitaceae. Yellow summer squash varieties are classified differently based on their shape, and have a large varietal selection for gardeners and cooks to choose from, but be warned: Summer squash have a reputation in the garden -- home gardeners swap tales of sneaking onto neighbors' porches after dark and leaving anonymous sacks of squash due to the prolific nature of well-tended plants.

Yellow Straightneck Squash

Yellow straightneck squash and the closely related yellow crookneck squash are categorized as constricted neck squash, which are narrower at their stem than their blossom end. They often have bumpy, warty skins, but some varieties, like the hybrid Cucurbita pepo "Sundance" are smooth. Try the heirloom varieties Cucurbita pepo "Yellow Crookneck" or "Early Prolific Straightneck," or a new variety, like the hybrids Cucurbita pepo "Horn of Plenty," "Fancycrook," "Goldbar" or "Seneca Prolific." Yellow straightneck squash are commonly seen alongside green zucchini in grocery stores.

Yellow Zucchini

Yellow zucchini -- frequently referred to as golden zucchini -- is categorized, along with the more ubiquitous green zucchini, as cylindrical squash, which are the same diameter from stem to blossom end. The All-America Selection-winning hybrid Cucurbita pepo "Gold Rush" is deep yellow to almost orange -- golden zucchini are strikingly vivid in appearance, which, in addition to being cylindrical rather than having a narrow neck, sets it apart from yellow straightneck and yellow crookneck squash. Burpee's Cucurbita pepo "Golden Zucchini" is another choice for bright golden color in your vegetable garden.

Harvesting

Summer squash of all varieties are warm-season vegetables, and are harvested while young and tender skinned. Zucchini should be harvested when they reach 6 to 8 inches long and 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter; yellow summer squash on the smaller size, between 4 and 7 inches long.

In the Kitchen

Due to their similar taste and texture, summer squash can be used interchangeably in recipes. Many people prefer the buttery, slightly more complex flavor of yellow straightneck or yellow crookneck squash, but they also possess larger seeds than zucchini, and lend themselves less well to certain recipes where they must be grated, as in baked goods. Summer squash lends itself well to grilling, sautéeing, stir-frying, stuffing, grating, stewing, and baked into casseroles. The nutritional value is the same across the summer squash family. Gardeners, and those who have nearby farmers' markets, also have the distinct advantage of having access to squash blossoms, which lend themselves deliciously to a number of culinary preparations. Smooth or warty, yellow or gold, straight or curved -- be on the lookout for both yellow summer squash and golden zucchini in your area, and hope that you may wake up one morning to find an overflowing sack of squash left on your porch in the night.