Handle with care and use immediately after picking. Some gardeners also pick the open blossoms before the fruit develops. These blossoms are a delicacy when dipped in a batter and fried. If the rind is too hard to be marked by the thumbnail, it is too old. Remove old fruit to allow new fruit to develop.
Check plants daily once they begin to bear.
In certain years, they may attack squash in large numbers and stunt or kill the small plants. The overwintering beetles carry bacterial wilt disease and spread it to the plants when they feed. Control cucumber beetles by applying a suggested insecticide. Squash bugs can be a problem on older squash plants. They can cause considerable damage to the foliage and may even strip the plant of leaves.