Growing Winter Squash and Pumpkins: The Ultimate Guide

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Last update on October 10 , 2023

Are you interested in growing winter squash and pumpkins ? Hey , me too ! In fact , they ’ve become some ofmy favorite cropsin the garden lately . wintertime mash is fun to grow , delicious and various in the kitchen , live for month in storage , and come in SO many unparalleled shapes , size , and variety . The plants admittedly do take up a bit of elbow room , but can be grown up trellises to keep space – which look pretty darn coolheaded too !

A wicker basket of butternut squash is arranged next to a squash plant, its green leaves flowing around the basket. A few butternut squash are sitting on the ground surrounding the basket.

This guide will cover everything you need to know to produce winter squash racquets and pumpkins fromseed to table , include the best time of class to found them , stain and space requirement , popular varieties , tip on maturate winter squash vertically up trellises or in container , bridge player pollination , pestis control condition , harvesting time , recipes , and more . After reading this , you ’re move to need to grow ALL the squash racquets ! And you ’ll be prepared to successfully do so .

What is Winter Squash

wintertime squelch is a grouping of plants belonging to the cucurbit ( Cucurbitaceae ) family . Examples of wintertime squash include pumpkin vine , butternut squash , acorn squash , spaghetti squash , delicata , kabocha , gourds , and more . Often starchy and semi - sweet in nature , wintertime squash is popularly used in bake ( e.g. pies or sweet lolly ) as well as roasted , tally to soup , swither and more . They also make fantastic instinctive declination interior decoration !

Have you ever wondered what the divergence between winter squash and summer squash rackets is , or why it is called “ winter squash ” at all ? Namely , because winter squash is capable tostore and delight through the winter!Hard squash is another name for winter squash .

Both summertime crush and winter squash vine are grown during the summertime , but summer squash ( for example zucchini ) is more sore , perishable , and needs to be eaten or preserved before long after harvest . In line , winter squash hashard , thick skin and firm fleshthat enables it to last in ironic computer storage for many calendar month post - harvest if cured and stored correctly . In fact , most winter squash varieties improve in flavor after a few months of storage .

A green, flat, pumpkin shaped squash has had a quarter of the fruit cut out revealing a bright orange flesh inside and a pulpy seed cavity.

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A birds eye view of DeannaCat’s outstretched hand holding a butternut squash. Below are two wicker baskets that are both full of harvested butternut squash. Grow winter squash to store healthy vegetables through winter.

When to Plant and Grow Winter Squash

Do n’t permit the name confound you ! Pumpkins and wintertime squelch growduring the warm growing season , just like courgette and other summertime squash . They arenotfrost tolerant . Winter mash takes a longer fourth dimension to grow , ripe , and ripen – often harvest in later summertime or tumble . mean solar day to maturity variegate greatly with motley , average 90 to 100 day .

The skillful time to embed winter squash rackets is in former spring , after the hazard of frosthas pass and the soil has warmed up to at least 60 degrees ( over 70 ° F is prefer if verbatim - sowing seed ) . The plant enjoy strong dirt and weather condition , so planting too early can slow down their growing . Here on the Central Coast of California , we typically plant winter squash seedlings outside in mid April to other May .

wintertime squash grows honorable whenair temperature are 50 - 90 ° F.Established fruit will remain to grow and mature in temperatures up to 100 ° F . But pollenation can not occur and flowers will overlook in hot temperatures , so new fruit will not fix . Therefore , berth with soft springs and very hot summertime weather ( for example Arizona , Florida , Texas , etc ) should plant out wintertime crush as too soon in the growing season as potential ( even in recent wintertime ) . Useshade clothduring rut wave as needed , orfrost clothto protect plant from freeze .

DeannaCat’s gloved hand is holding a winter squash seedling after it has been removed from its small pot. The root ball is fairly well covered in roots and is ready to be transplanted to the garden. Below is a raised bed of chard that will be changed out for winter squash.

Starting from Seed

It ’s easy to develop winter squash and pumpkins from seed!Direct sowseeds out of doors after the last frost , once the grunge is 65 - 70 ° F . found the seeds about an column inch deep , and keep the grunge consistently moist during germination . We like to track emerging seedlings withchicken wire clochesto preclude bird or other critters from eating the tender sprouts .

Or , get a jump startle on the grow season and start wintertime squelch seedsindoorsand transplanting seedling outside instead . Sow winter squash seeds indoors in a flossy seed starting mixture about2 to 4 weeks before the last frost particular date . utilize aseedling heat matto keep the soil lovesome and agrow lightto provide ample bright light , and do n’t forget toharden them offbefore transplant alfresco ! ( See more indoor seed part tips here ) .

HOT steer : Squash seedling do not like their roots disturbed ( often said to “ not transpose well ” ) so it ’s crucial to not let the seedlings get too crowd , heavy , or root bound when begin indoors . To combat that , we start squeeze seeds inreusable 4 - inch potsor 6 - inch pot , and only one seedling per passel . That way , they have lot of room and do not need to be pot up or teased apart .

A vine of a butternut squash plant, one small immature fruit is in the foreground which has just been pollinated as the flower is still attached to its blossom end. Beyond is a more mature butternut squash that is much further along in development. Grow winter squash for great yields of healthy food that stores well.

Types of Winter Squash to Grow

The most popular types of wintertime squash admit Cucurbita pepo , butternut squash , delicata , spaghetti , andacornsquash . Yet there are numerous other sort , anddozens of unique varietieswithin each of those categories . For object lesson , NutterbutterandAutumn Frostare two of our favorite white walnut squash motley to uprise . Sugar Proto-Indo European pumpkinsare nonpareil for broil , while multifariousness like Cider Jack are great for declension decor and cutting . Varieties likecinderellaandwinter sweet squashare both gorgeous and delicious !

Most winter mash grow on long sprawl vines . Vining squashplants are indeterminate , mean they will continue to grow heavy , longer , and retain to bring forth yield all the way up until frost . On the other hand , some winter squash rackets are determinate orbush varieties , which stay more compact and bear most of their yield over a concentrated , short menstruum of metre ( much like courgette ) . Bush sort also tend to produce fewer squash racquets per works . Be sure to read plant description to sympathise which type you ’re growing !

Seethis list of 28 awesome wintertime mash and pumpkin varietiesfor more ideas and details .

A birds eye view of a large amount of varying winter squash varieties. Some are orange, pink, green, blue, white, and combinations of all of the above.

Growing Requirements: Sun, Soil, Water, Fertilizer

Spacing Requirements and Growth

Plant winter mash in a location with full sun , rich well - run out dirt , andPLENTY of space to grow!Winter squeeze works tend to get quite large , though the sizing varies depending on the cultivar and type ( bush vs. vining ) , so check the spacing requirements for the specific variety you ’re growing .

Bush smorgasbord stay on more compact , keen for small place . On the other hand , vining winter squash can grow anywhere from3 to 15 feet long . Even more , a single industrial plant will send off several vines in every direction , not just one single long vine . Winter squeeze plants also have extensive root system , and do n’t grow well when crowd together or with competing plants within a couple feet .

you may mature wintertime squash in the reason pumpkin - fleck style , or inraised bedsand allow them to sprawl and run out over the incline of bed . In that character , you may need to lay asmall piece of cardboard(or other protective textile ) under squash racquets or pumpkins that are sitting direct on the filth to prevent rot or insect wrong . Or , save distance by maturate vining wintertime squash vertically up a trellis – explore below .

A raised garden bed full of butternut squash vines with many fruit of varying ripeness. Grow winter squash for abundant yields of tasty vegetables.

Growing Winter Squash Vertically on Trellises

Vining winter squash are easy to acquire vertically up trellises , obelisks , or other backing body structure . With small tendrils that curl and grip , pumpkin and squash vines are natural climbers . wintertime squeeze looks especiallywhimsical and dramatichanging from arched treillage and arbors . You canmake your own trelliswith cattle panel or wire fence , orbuy a pre - made arced trellis .

In addition to salve lots of space , trellising wintertime squash and pumpkins offersa number of benefits . increase airflow among the leaf reduces the preponderance of disease and cuss . Elevating the fruit pull in them less susceptible to rot , pests , or discoloration from sitting on the ground . It also makes everything easier to see and maintain . at long last , trellised squash vines can help create tone to develop less heat - kind crops below , such as gelt or other leafy green .

Yet as the squash become very large and heavy , there is a slender peril that the vines can get damaged or even bring out under the weight of the yield . Therefore , some gardeners make slings or other supports to help cradle mature yield as it hangs . Some clever examples of ways tosupport hanging squashinclude using pieces of old triiodothyronine - shirt , panty hosiery , mesh netting , string slings , or eventhese specialized pumpkin hammock .

A two way image collage, the first image shows an open garden bed with four winter squash seedlings spaced evenly apart throughout. The second image shows the same raised bed 6 weeks later, the plants have completely grown in, covering the bare soil that we previously visible in the bed.

Hand Pollinating Winter Squash and Pumpkins

Without proper pollination , little squash yield will start to turn but thenfail to modernize andshrivel , rot , or return off the vine . So , it may be necessary to pass - pollinate wintertime squash flowers – which is easy to do ! just collect some pollen from an open manful flush and transfer it to the centre of an open female flower . We usually use a small paintbrush , though a q - tip kit and boodle as well . You only call for to pollinate each squash / female flower once . See the exposure below , andlearn more about hand - pollinating squash here .

Do n’t care if your winter squash only has manful or female bloom at first . That ’s common for young plant ; the ratio will even out as the plant matures . Plus , you may not want to pollinate the very first squash racquets or two that appears anyways ( especially if the plant is still quite belittled ) since that will make the plant focus its energy on developing yield instead of growing larger in size of it first .

Can you grow winter squash in a pot?

Yes , it ’s possible to grow winter squash rackets and pumpkins in containers . Yet due to their big size and high water and nutritive demand , winter squash performs best in big pots . Choose a container that isat least20 to 24 inches deep and wide-eyed , or have at least 15 or25 gallonsof territory . Half wine barrelsare perfect ! Also insure the container has mickle of drainage trap , and is satisfy with eminent character potting soil remedy with compost . Otherwise , the other growing lead covered in this clause apply to pot Cucurbita pepo and winter squash too !

Disease and Pest Control

wintertime squelch and pumpkins are prostrate to a number ofdiseasesincluding powdery mildew , bacterial leaf spot , and blight . Powdery mold is arguably the most common fungal disease that affects winter squash , which appears as irregular white-hot fuzzy spots on the leaves . Mildew is n’t commonly black to plants , but should still be kept in check . One easy option is to grow varieties that are of course resistant to powdery mold . instruct other organic ways to prevent and see powdery mildew in this template .

A number ofpest insectsare pull to wintertime squash and pumpkins too . The primary culprit aresquash hemipterous insect , aphids , and the dreadedsquash vine borer . penetrate on any of the pest name to learn how to control them . Some varieties of squash are course resistant to plague , while others are highly susceptible . For instance , blue-blooded hubbard squash attracts so many squash bug and vine borers that it ’s often used as atrap crop!In dividing line , acorn mash , butternut squash and “ high mallow pumpkins ” are extremely resistant to squash vine borers due to their laborious bow .

large crittersmay also want a taste perception of your precious winter squash . Birds may go after young seedlings and tender fresh increase , while gophers are drawn to eating the ancestor . Deer , rabbit , stinker , squirrels , and other rodents may eat the yield or foliage . To protect plant , consider usinghoops and row coversas needed . We employ thesechicken wire clochesto breed the works while they ’re still small , anddurable ground squirrel basketsto shield the rootball of in - ground plants .

A green lean-to trellis is set up on the end of a raised bed. A smaller winter squash plant is starting to grow towards and onto the trellis.

Cold Hardiness: Will winter squash survive frost?

Winter squash is n’t frigid hardy . Robert Frost will damage the leaves and fruit , and a intemperate freeze can kill the plant . In an unexpected frost , protect the plants withfrost cover , blanket , or other insulating material ( though damage could still take place ) . It ’s important toharvest Cucurbita pepo and winter squash intended for recollective - terminus storage before frost , because frost will damage their protective rind and compromise shelf life-time . intemperately crush with freeze hurt should be harvested within a day or two , stored in the refrigerator , and used or preserved within a week .

When to Harvest Winter Squash and Pumpkins

UPDATE : I ’ve since write a more details guide on when and how to harvest , washing , remedy and storage winter squash or pumpkins . Check it out here , or remain with the general cliff notes below .

The time it get hold of for wintertime crush to maturate depends on the variety you ’re develop , ranging from 60 to 120 days to maturity . As harvest meter draws near , the leaves will take up to turn brown and give-up the ghost back . The stem of a ripe squash should also turn more tan alternatively of green , and the skin will unremarkably switch colour .

To see if wintertime mash is quick for harvest , use the“thumbnail mental test ” : gently poke the skin with your fingernail , and if the skin easily Franklin Pierce or dents , it ’s not ready . Once the skin is rugged and dense enough to resist puncture by the thumbnail psychometric test , it ’s ready .

Large round arches are lined one after the next on the way to a glassed in sun room. The first trellis is covered in vining winter squash with orange pumpkin type squash hanging from the vines.

Many gardeners wait to harvest wintertime squelch long past times they ’re technically “ ready”,once the vines wholly conk out backbut before Robert Frost arrives . It ’s best to pull up stakes wintertime squash on the vine to mature as long as possible , where it will continue to mature , develop in smell , and meliorate the seniority of shelf aliveness place - harvest .

How to Harvest Winter Squash

To harvest wintertime squash racquets , usesharp garden shearsto skip the fast stem . pull up stakes a good distance of stemconnected to the squash , but take precaution not to cut the vine itself . Avoid breaking the stem off , as this will make the squash to rot more quickly . If any fruit is crack , bruised , overlook prow , or otherwise damaged , rust those first . Wash off excess dirt , but ensure to good dry the squash before storage .

Curing and Storing Winter Squash

Though you’re able to eat and enjoy your winter mash at any time , many varieties benefit from extra rest time to ripen off the vine , where they become more sweet and flavorful over the months to get along .

right away after harvest , propagate your winter squelch out in acool , dry , well - ventilated area . Some family line “ cure ” the squash vine in a warmer spot ( 80 to 85 degrees F ) for several days before moving it to a tank location , particularly if they feel it was harvested a shade jejunely .

pumpkin and winter squeeze storehouse best long - term in a nerveless , moody , airy location – about 50 to 60 ° F and 50 - 70 % humidity . We keep ours in a closet under the stairs that stays about 60 - 65 . Avoid put in winter squeeze in extra - insensate dampish root cellar or basements . Ideally , keep the squash rackets in asingle layerrather than piled on top of one another .

A winter squash plant being trained vertically up a trellis, a few rows of lettuce are growing below. You can grow winter squash in tight spaces by using a trellis.

The time winter squash shoemaker’s last in storage depends on a number of factors : the variety , maturity at harvest time time , and storage conditions . Most winter squelch should easily last2 to 3 month , and many much longer . For example , we were eating just butternut squash this May that was harvest the former October – over 7 months later!Periodically checkyour squash cache , and use the ones that are getting wrinkled or soft first .

Recipes: How to Prepare and Eat Winter Squash

Winter squash are most oftenroasted or used in baking , such aspumpkin sweet breador butternut squash pie . Yes , you read that right – butternut squeeze pie!Similar in texture and flavor , many winter squashes can be usedinterchangeablywith pumpkin in recipes – especially butternut , kabocha , and hubbard type .

The easiest elbow room to roast winter squash is to cut it in one-half ( from stem to bottom ) , scoop out the guts and seed , androast the half whole . you may rib them face - up with a sprinkling of seasonings , oil , or butter in the hollow cavity , or roast them chassis - side down . I also wish to carefully peel and dilute butternut into bite - sizing cubes or “ french nipper ” , thrash about them in olive crude and seasonings , and broil them like potatoes .

We also love to use butternut squash in soup , like thiscreamy laugh at butternut crush soup with salvia , or add cubed chunks to our favoritekale lentil soup recipe . We also make a killer veganroasted sugar pie pumpkin 3 - bean chili(and often sub butternut in that recipe too ) . Or , attempt our season ricestuffed acorn squash formula !

A four way image collage, the first image shows the inside of a squash blossom that has three squash bees collecting pollen. The second image shows a small butternut squash that has just opened its flower to be pollinated. The third image shows a male squash flower, the fourth image shows a the inside of a male squash flower.

Delicata mash has exceptionally flimsy , eatable cutis , so peeling is n’t necessary . This makes it particularly pop for spry and easygoing preparation , and even used on salads . Once cooked , spaghetti mash anatomy pulls aside into long “ bean ” – a fun one for adult and kids likewise !

Last but not least , do n’t forget the winter squashseeds are edibletoo ! discover how to make the most crunchy , delicious and nutrient overcharge androasted Cucurbita pepo seed here(or other hard squash ) .

Preserving Winter Squash or Pumpkin

The best elbow room to preserve winter squash and pumpkin is to roast , puree , and thenfreeze it . Then habituate your homemade squash puree in any recipe that calls for canned Cucurbita pepo , including in baking , soups , stew and more . See the easy instructions here . Whole cubed wintertime squash and pumpkin vine can also be pressure canned ( nut not mashed or pureed ) . Finally , you may also spread autumn pumpkin puree out in a lean layer on linedfood dehydratortrays , dry until completely brittle , then cranch into pumpkin powder !

Feeling excited about squash yet?

Well friends , I hope you ’re feel as pumped about growing wintertime squash racquets as I am now . They really are so beautiful and fun to develop – and deplete ! Not to bring up wintertime squash it utterly adulterate with antioxidant , vitamin , mineral , and fibre . We did n’t even touch on all thehealth benefitsthey provide ! Be sure to check out9 sustainable ways to use , recycle , or dispose of pumpkinsafter Halloween too .