I've never grown spaghetti squash before. I'm assuming that it can't be any harder than growing zucchini. I've seen it listed as summer squash and Territorial lists it as winter squash. I want to grow some but do I need to hold off until fall? Is there a variety I should really look for?
Spaghetti squashwhat should I look for?
Terri, I've grown it before, although it was before I really got serious about gardening. It is easy to grow and yes, it is actually a winter squash. Like any other winter squash, you plant it at your proper planting time in the spring. We didn't try storing any for any length of time, but I did have a few that held well as long as 3-4 weeks. I starting picking them later in the summer. Just check your seed pack for days to maturity, to get an idea when you can start harvesting. You can harvest for fresh use until late fall, when you have to harvest the remainder for storing.
Terri about any winter squash can be eaten as a summer squash if harvested very small. But one won't get many winter fruits if he practices this.Most summer squashes and zukes being a prime example are much more prolfic than winter squash.
When your finger nail can't cut the skin and mark it is the time to harvest it.
Squash stores best when cut from the vine and let lay in the sun for 10 days.then brought in and stored inside with lots of free air space around it. This is supposed to bring out the sugar in it and make it sweeter.Ernie
Ernie, thanks for the additional information. I wasn't interested in storing them when I grew Spaghetti Squash before, so I didn't know any of that. Guess I'll have to plant more seeds, so that I have plenty of squash to store, too! :)
I grew these two or three years ago, and they were the most prolific of the squashes I grew that year. But at the end of the season, I realized that the price of even organic spaghetti squash was low enough that it was not worth my while to grow these on account of the room they need. I tried both regular spaghetti squash and a variety that was developed by Cornell that is supposed to be more tasty. That one did not have as good stringiness. Can't remember the name.
Just to add there are several cultivars of spaghetti squash. All are grown for thier mature stringy flesh which resembles spaghetti. The original open pollinated Vegetable Spaghetti aka Spaghetti is a 3-5 lb fruit that take about 90 days. Tivoli (hybrid) 100 days also runs 3-4 lbs, but is aspace saving semi-vining plant. Unique (hybrid) 85 days runs 1-1.5 lbs ( personal size) and is also semi-vining. Stripetti (hybrid) 90 days run about 2 -3 lbs. It is not as "stringy" as others as it is a spaghetti - delicata cross).
That's the one, Farmer Dill--Stripetti. I grew that and an unnamed cultivar. The unnamed one was much better, IMO.
Thanks all! I see there is one called "Small Wonder" I may try. The open pollinated one will probably make it too. Might as well try a couple to see which we like best.