Golden saucers straight from the garden bed. Aureus F1 is an early, very prolific pattypan squash with intensely yellow fruits and clearly defined scalloped edges – they look like small, carved suns. Its bushy, compact habit means that one plant fits into a square metre and regularly provides crisp fruits for pickling, salads and grilling from July to September.

At a glance

• Fruits: yellow, disc-shaped, with pronounced scallops
• Habit: bushy, compact – ideal for small gardens
• Sowing under cover: April
• Direct sowing: from mid-May
• Harvest: July – September (from June when grown from transplants)
• Position: sunny, warm, fertile soil
• Difficulty: easy – a variety for beginners
• Seeds per packet: approx. 18 seeds (2 g)

What makes this variety stand out

Aureus is an F1 hybrid, meaning it has uniform growth and fruits, as well as high, predictable yields – the plants set fruit successively, one after another, throughout most of the season. Harvests begin very early: as soon as June when grown from transplants, and in July when sown directly outdoors. The fruits have light yellow skin that turns golden over time and firm, crisp flesh, while the deep scallops make them one of the most decorative vegetables in the garden.

In practice, this pattypan squash is “two in one”: young fruits (5–8 cm) can be treated like cucumbers and pickled whole, while larger ones can be used like courgettes for stuffing, baking and soups. Its compact, bushy habit, without long runners, means it can even be grown in a large container on a terrace.

Growing step by step

Sowing (April, under cover): sow individually in 8–9 cm pots, 2 cm deep, at a temperature of 20–25°C. Germination occurs after 5–8 days. Harden off the seedlings before planting them out by placing them outdoors for a few days.

Direct sowing (from mid-May): once the risk of frost has passed and the soil has reached at least 15°C, sow 2–3 seeds per station, 2–3 cm deep, at a spacing of 100 × 80 cm. After emergence, leave the single strongest plant.

Planting out (after 15 May): plant the seedlings at a spacing of 100 × 80 cm in a sunny, warm position, in fertile, humus-rich soil. Pattypan squash does not like cold conditions – in a cold spring, it is worth covering the plants with horticultural fleece at first.

Care: water regularly at the base of the plant, especially during flowering and fruiting; mulching with straw or grass clippings retains moisture and suppresses weeds. Harvest the fruits frequently – the more often you pick them, the more new fruits the plant will set.

Uses

Young Aureus F1 fruits are a classic choice for pickling and preserving whole, like gherkins – crisp and eye-catching in a jar. Slightly larger fruits are excellent raw in salads and slaws, while mature ones are ideal for stuffing, baking and grilling, as well as for vegetable soups and ratatouille. Children enjoy the decorative yellow saucers, and the plant’s compact habit means it can even be grown in a 30–40 l container on a terrace.

Gardener’s tip

Specifications