Discover the Intriguing World of Squash: Top 9 Fun Facts You Never Knew

1. Flower Power Delicacy

Who knew squash could be such a blossoming culinary delight? It's flower power for the foodie crowd: Squash blossoms, the deliciously vibrant offshoots of the flowering plant, are not only edible but also considered a scrumptious delicacy in several dishes.
Source => healthline.com

2. Fruity Misunderstanding

Not everything is as it seems in the land of Jack O'Lanterns and Cinderella pumpkin carriages; the truth is, we've all been led into a "fruitful" misunderstanding: Surprisingly, all squash variations - including our beloved pumpkins - are actually fruits, not vegetables, because they contain seeds and serve as the edible reproductive body of seed plants. So the next time you're enjoying a comforting pumpkin soup or a deliciously sweet pumpkin pie, take heart in knowing that you're savoring the fine flavours of a nutritious fruit!
Source => realsimple.com

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3. George of the Gourd

Forget George of the Jungle, meet George of the Gourd: Squash has been grown in the Americas for over 5,000 years, and even counted presidents like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson among its avid cultivators, while holding an important place in Native American culture, where it's grown in the Three Sisters style with beans and corn.
Source => almanac.com

4. OG Veggie of the Americas

They say eat your vegetables, but no one mentioned that squash might just be the OG veggie of the Americas: First cultivated in Mesoamerica 8,000 to 10,000 years ago, squash became a staple food alongside corn and beans, offering not only excellent sources of nutrients but also flowering into numerous regional varieties that shaped cuisines across Central and down to South America.
Source => thesykescompany.com

5. Ancient Vitamin Galore

Cushaw and behold, a tale of ancient vitamin galore: Among the Mesoamerican civilizations like the Olmec, Maya, and Aztec, squash was a dietary and agricultural rockstar, with varieties like cushaw squash used in medicine and butternut squash making special appearances at ceremonial feasts.
Source => courses.lumenlearning.com

6. Squash Skin Debate

Peeling back the layers on the great squash debate, it seems we've been skinning them alive based on their culinary couture and texture-shaming these gourds all along: Despite common misconceptions, all squash skin is edible, but the enjoyment factor depends on the variety – while the tender exteriors of delicata and acorn squash can be devoured with fervor, the tough shells of spaghetti and butternut squash are often sent to gulag of discarded veggie peels.
Source => myrecipes.com

7. Squash: The Culinary Chameleon

Get ready to squash the competition in "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader": squash is actually a fruit, not a vegetable! The seeds and structure of this culinary chameleon classify it as a fruit, while its scrumptious appearances in savory dishes had us fooled. Plus, its high water content is a stealthy superpower for hydration, giving an unexpected splash of H2O to your meal planning.
Source => wholesomeyum.com

8. Squash & The Zucchini Buddies

Before the band called "Squash & The Zucchini Buddies" made it big: squash, along with pumpkin, zucchini, and their roadie watermelon, belong to the Cucurbitaceae family, which boasts some of the highest numbers of species used as human food – in fact, these edible rockstars were among the earliest cultivated plants in both the Old and New Worlds.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

9. Queens of Crop: The Three Sisters

Move aside Kardashians, the real-life queens of crop are the Oneida's Three Sisters: corn, beans, and of course, squash! These agricultural divas are the ultimate package deal - you grow them together; you win together: When planted in tandem, these three dames provide up to 20% more produce, on a smaller plot of land, with reduced need for water and fertilizer. Their harmonious partnership even creates complete proteins, making meat a totally optional indulgence. Squash's role? Its leafy regalia shades the soil, preventing erosion, weed growth, and retaining moisture. A green monarch indeed!
Source => oneidaindiannation.com