Benning's Green Tint Scallop Summer Squash

55 days — Although now sold by seed merchants almost universally under the name 'Benning's Green Tint', the company that originally introduced it into the seed trade actually called it, 'Farr's Benning White Bush'. Over the years it has been called by many synonyms including, "Farr's White Bush," "Benning's Bush," and simply "Benning's." It is a beautiful "Scallop" or "Patty Pan-type" summer squash strain, producing fruit are a gray-green color, scallop-shaped and best harvested at three inches in diameter. The plants are productive, early maturing, bush-type, and relatively compact.

'Benning's Green Tint' is an old variety that was developed by a market grower from Benning,^[5] Washington, D.C., named Charles N. Farr.^[1] The Farr family had developed the variety to be creamy but firm in texture, pale-green to white in color, and early maturing, therefore first to market. Very popular in the region, they had been offering its fruit for sale to consumers since about 1896.^[2] When approached about procuring seeds, he always declined.

In 1906, Mr. Farr decided to retire from farming and sold his seed stock to local seed merchant, F. W. Bolgiano who quickly introduced it in his 1907 seed catalog. Although Charles E. Farr retired, his brother, Nimrod^[5] E. Farr continued working the family's farm and supplied seed to Bolgiano's for many years.^[1] Each packet contains three grams, which is approximately 28 to 30 seeds.