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Scallop Early White Bush patty-pan squash plant with white scalloped fruit

How to Grow Scallop Early White Bush Squash From Seed

By Maxim Kaufman — Founder & CEO, Organo Republic

Updated July 2026

Scallop Early White Bush is a classic patty-pan summer squash with flat, round, creamy-white fruit and pretty scalloped, flying-saucer edges. It is a fast, compact bush plant that starts producing in about 50 days and keeps going all season when you pick often. Harvest the squash small and tender, around 2 to 3 inches across, for the sweetest, most buttery flavor. It is one of the easiest and most productive squash a family can grow.

Ready to grow your own? Shop Scallop Squash Early White Bush Seeds from Organo Republic.

This is the quick guide to Scallop Early White Bush. For the full step-by-step on starting seeds, sowing, feeding, and troubleshooting summer squash, see our complete guide to growing summer squash from seed.

Quick start

Direct-sow seeds about an inch deep in warm, rich soil once all frost has passed, planting several per hill and thinning to two or three strong plants. Space hills 24 to 36 inches apart in full sun and keep the soil evenly moist. Fruit is ready in about 50 days. Pick the pale, scalloped patty-pans small, at 2 to 3 inches across, while the skin still nicks with a fingernail, and harvest every day or two to keep them coming.

Best tip

With patty-pans it is all about size. These little scalloped squash are at their sweetest and most tender at just 2 to 3 inches across, so pick them constantly rather than letting a few grow into seedy saucers. In hot regions like Texas and Florida, sow in late spring and again in midsummer to stay ahead of squash bugs and powdery mildew; in cool areas like the Pacific Northwest, wait for warm soil before sowing.

At a glance

How to Grow Scallop Early White Bush Squash From Seed — growing specifications at a glance
Botanical name	Cucurbita pepo
Plant type	Warm-season annual
USDA zones	3 to 11 (grown as a warm-season annual)
Sun	Full sun (6 to 8+ hours)
Days to maturity	About 50 days from sowing
Height	18 to 24 inches (bush)
Spacing	Hills 24 to 36 inches apart
Water	About 1 inch a week; water at the base

Uses

Scallop Early White Bush is a beautiful little patty-pan, and its flat, cup-like shape makes it perfect for stuffing and roasting whole. Small ones are lovely halved and grilled, sauteed in butter, or tossed into stir-fries and skillet dishes, and the thin skin means there is no need to peel. Its mild, buttery flavor takes on whatever seasoning you give it.

Frequently asked questions

How long does Scallop Early White Bush take to grow?

About 50 days from sowing to your first pick. Because it is a fast bush type, it comes into production quickly and keeps setting new fruit as long as you harvest regularly.

What does Scallop Early White Bush squash look like?

It is a pale, creamy-white patty-pan squash with a flat, round body and scalloped, flying-saucer edges. Picked small at 2 to 3 inches across, the skin is thin and tender and the flesh is mild and buttery.

When should I pick scallop patty-pan squash?

Pick it young and small, ideally 2 to 3 inches across when the skin still nicks easily with a fingernail. Small fruit is tender and sweet; left to grow large it turns seedy and tough, and it also slows the plant down.

How do I use white patty-pan squash in the kitchen?

Its cup-like shape is perfect for stuffing and roasting whole, and small ones are great halved and grilled, sauteed, or added to stir-fries. The tender skin means no peeling.

Ready to grow your own? Heirloom Scallop Early White Bush gives you tender white patty-pans all summer from a compact, productive plant. For the full step-by-step, see our complete summer squash growing guide linked at the top of this page.

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By Maxim Kaufman — Founder & CEO, Organo Republic

Maxim founded Organo Republic in 2017 and personally selects, tests, and grows the heirloom, non-GMO varieties the company offers. Under his leadership, Organo Republic was named Agri Business Review’s Top Non-GMO Seed Variety Solution 2026.