When to pick butternut squash? Acorn Squash?

We have tons of both and want to pick it at the correct time to make it keep as long as possible.
Thanks.
Kay

Last year I picked my winter squash after the vines started to really wither and the stems to the squash closed up... but ahead of the first frost.

Kay you got winter squash growing now? when did you plant it? I've always wanted to grow winter squash earlier than the fall. How's it going for you there? growing that squash?

I always had a hard time knowing when to pick mine too. the stems seem to dry up which makes it harder for me to get the squash off them LOL I didn't knwo when to pick mine last year waited for all the vines to die and then went and picked them all LOL I may try growing it again this summer, if I can figure out a way to clear out all the grass that seems to be taking over in my garden.

We pick our butternuts when the vines die down or we get a frost - whatever comes first. We use a pair of sharp strong pruners or loppers to cut the hard stems about an inch above the squash (kind of like a pumpkin). They store really well and are delicious.

(Cut off the stem top and then cut in half longways; scoop out the seeds with a spoon. Turn the two halves upside down on a plate and microwave on high for 15 min. Easy and delicious. Can add salt, sugar, and butter if need.)

Oh, yeah... what CompostR said about leaving some stem is important! Helps them store longer.

I fear I shall have no winter squash this year. The seedlings are the same size as when I set them out 3 weeks ago... Baby Blue Hubbard's. :(

I didn't realize that about the stem, thanks for that info, i'll remember that. I suppose that holds firm for all squash then? leave some stem on?

Hey Kathy Ann! So nice to hear from you!

To answer your question, we planted the winter squash at the same time we planted the summer squash....about the end of April. We always lose the squash in the weeds, so this year we solved that problem. We laid five ft wide heavy black plastic down the row.
At first we tried to anchor it down with bricks and pins made for this purpose. Our wind just blew those bricks around. So my innovative DH found some t-posts lying around. We laid those all down the edges of the plastic and they worked very well.

No more lost squash! Of course they want to keep running off the plastic. All you have to do is just redirect them.

darius, have you tried cutting the acorn squash length-wise, seeding, and putting chopped apple in the caviaties? Add a pat of butter and some cinnamon and then microwave until tender. (I forgot how long you microwave, but try it in small increments until it gets tender.) Delicious!

After the squash is cut, where do you store it? In a cool spot in the house?

Some of our acorn squash are turning gold instead of dark green. Are they bad, and if so, what happened to them?

I appreciate everybody's input here.

Kay

Edited to say I forgot to say you need to add a little sugar or Splenda to the apple and cinnamon!


This message was edited Jul 10, 2008 8:49 PM

That's a wonderful idea, I'm going to try that next time I grow squash. We have so many weeds in our garden, sometimes I think i'm the only one around with weeds in the veggie garden cause everybody's around us is so pretty and clean.

Hey Kay member the last time we traded? right in the middle of a heart attack LOL been 4 years now. I remember that like it was yesterday.

To store winter squash, you need first to 'cure' them for about 2-3 weeks. I just put mine on the covered porch, but they need temps over 60º. (Brush off any dirt with a slightly damp rag.) Last year I had to bring them into the house to cure because it was getting cold. Then I put them loose in the root cellar. I had about 450 pounds of winter squash last year.

I did can a bunch of winter squash, but be advised that you cannot safely can squash purée because even pressure canning doesn't heat the middle of the jars well. I canned mine in chunks, then mashed when I wanted to use some for a pumpkin pie or something...

BTW, the winter squash known as a Cushaw is what ALL commercial canned pumpkin is made from. Tastes the same and is not stringy.

I had no idea about the cushaw squash, that's good pumpkin that's in the can, Learn something new every day.

I'd like to try to find some cushaw seeds.

Kathy_Ann, I have some I can send you although it's too late for this year? Fresh seeds might be better anyway...

Darius: Depends on who can cans it. Libbys uses the Dickenson, a C.moschata.
http://www.verybestbaking.com/products/libbys/pure.aspx

Thanks Farmerdill.... you just doubled my knowledge base!

is it a summer squash? or winter, is it like 90 days till harvest on them? if so I still hve time toplant. last year I planted my winter squash second week in July. would love some. want something in trade for them?

Winter.

I still have some time.

Okay, I'll look for them tomorrow... I think I know which stash they are in... BTW, they are seeds I saved but not from a cushaw I grew. Haven't grown any. This year I have planted baby blue hubbards (5-6 lbs) that are doing squat. Last year I grew some tromboncino, want some too IF I saved any seeds?

never tried those before darius, are they good?

I'm real limited on space, in fact, i'm going to have to put these squash in a diff place because the garden is just now flourishing, and nothing is ready to be done yet. LOL haven't even started getting one cucumber yet. it's late in the season I know, but the bad weather all spring, really slowed things down. my cucumbers are just now starting to run.

I can't keep the weeds undercontrol either. it's beyond my control now LOL

going to put down the 5 foot across plastic like mentioned above for these squash, and butternut squash. I'll just take the cushaw and pass on the others, i'm limited on space now.

Yes, Kathy Ann, I remember! I'm so glad you are all better now. You had that heart attack at a mighty young age. And from reading all your posts it sounds like you are up to your eyeballs in plants! A girl after my own heart!

My daddy grew cushaws one year. They make wonderful pudding. I used to have a recipe for it somewhere but don't even know where to start looking. I guess it is something like pumpkin pie filling. Anyway, we might try growing them next year.

We are thinking about putting out another crop of winter squash this summer.

Darius, do you have experience with acorn squash? We have so fairly large hard green ones now, but the stems on them are still green. How do we determine when to harvest them? Has anyone ever had them turn orange in the garden? If so, what does that mean?

Thanks for all the good information!

I need to get my hiney in gear if I"m going to plant winter squash, This time last year I think I had it all planted. and harvested in plenty of time before winter. We've had so much rain the ground is still wet to do any disking. I'm looking forward to the plastic under neat the squash plants , think that's a wonderful idea.

So far Kay, i've been able to handle all the plants and keep things pretty well weeded. Everything is compact around here so I do'nt have to travel far with the hose LOL But now i'm clearing out to make room for new, no more new flower b eds for me.