Your ideal yellow squash is about 4 to 6 inches long. Think of a firm, slightly curved lemon—not a football. At this size, the skin is tender, the seeds are tiny, and the flavor is buttery and sweet.
Here’s a fun trick: give it a gentle squeeze. If it feels firm but gives just a little, you’re in the sweet spot. If it’s rock hard, it’s too young; if it’s soft or mushy, you waited too long. You want that Goldilocks squash.
And don’t worry about perfection. A slightly bent or lumpy squash is often the tastiest—it means your plant is living its best life!
