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The Gardener's Spot
Winter Squash
Plant Information
Origin: America
Sci. Name: Cucubita
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Sow'n
Swoing Depth: 1 in (2.5 cm)
Indoors: 3 wks
Outdoors: 2 wks After Last Frost
Spacing: 12-18 in (30-45 cm)
Days To Germination: 6-10
Seed Life: 4 Years
Grow'n
Watering: Heavy
Sunshine: Full Sun
Height: 18 in (45 cm)
Width: Up To 20 ft (
Nutrient levels: N-high, P-high, K-high
Companion Plants: Celery, corn, pole bean, onion and radish
Bad Companions: Potato
Sci. Name: Cucubita
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Sow'n
Swoing Depth: 1 in (2.5 cm)
Indoors: 3 wks
Outdoors: 2 wks After Last Frost
Spacing: 12-18 in (30-45 cm)
Days To Germination: 6-10
Seed Life: 4 Years
Grow'n
Watering: Heavy
Sunshine: Full Sun
Height: 18 in (45 cm)
Width: Up To 20 ft (
Nutrient levels: N-high, P-high, K-high
Companion Plants: Celery, corn, pole bean, onion and radish
Bad Companions: Potato
Overview:
Winter squash and pumpkins originated in the Americas. They were part of the trio called the three sisters, consisting of beans, corn and pumpkin. The beans grew up the corn and fixed nitrogen in the soil for the corn and pumpkin. The corn provided a place for the beans to grow. The pumpkins grew underneath the corn and made it undesirable for animals to enter the garden. They also complement each other nutritionally and provide a sustainable diet if meat is scarce.
The winter squash was taken over to Spain with Christopher Columbus, but it did not spread as well as the tomato and corn. Winter squash needs warm temperatures and a longer growing season to produce nicely. There are now many varieties and many ways to grow a nice harvest of winter squash, despite their requirements. They make a nice addition to the food cellar for eating garden vegetables in the winter.
Planting and Growing:
Winter Squash do not like frost and should be sown outdoors once the danger of frost has subsided. You can sow them indoors 2 weeks before the last frost, but they are quite sensitive to transplanting, and might be better sown directly in the garden. If you do transplant, be sure to not disturb the roots and plant at the same level as the soil in the pot.
Warm up your soil before planting to extend the growing season by putting down a clear or black plastic. Know that the clear plastic will also help all the weed seeds to germinate, so when it is pulled off, there will be some weeds to pull.
Plant winter squash and pumpkins in hills 4 feet (1.2 m) apart. After planting them, you can put a row cover over the top to keep soil and plants warm, but don't allow the cover to rest on the top of the plants. Remove the row cover when plants begin to flower.
When soil temperatures warm past 75 degrees F (24 degrees C) spread organic mulch 3 to 4 inches (7 to 10 cm) thick. Squash will need heavy watering, especially during fruiting and maturing of fruits. They also need to be fertilized every 3 to 4 weeks with a nitrogen rich organic fertilizer.
Harvesting and Preserving:
Squash are usually mature when the stem starts to shrivel and die back, and the skin of the squash is not easily scratched with a fingernail; however, pumpkins usually have a softer skin. When harvesting the squash, leave a couple of inches of stem so that it stores better. Also, cure it in the sun for 10 or so days to help harden the skin. Do not let frost get it. Cover or bring in if frost is forecasted.
After bringing them in for storage, wash them with 1-gallon water to ½ cup chlorine solution to keep them from getting any bacteria growth during storage. Leave space and air between squash to allow good air circulation.
Freezing is also an excellent way to preserve squash. Wash and cut into quarters or smaller, and steam until tender 45-60 minutes. Then, mash or puree. Pack into freezer bags in proper portions for individual use, making sure to press out all the air. Wait until it is cool to put in freezer.
Winter squash and pumpkins originated in the Americas. They were part of the trio called the three sisters, consisting of beans, corn and pumpkin. The beans grew up the corn and fixed nitrogen in the soil for the corn and pumpkin. The corn provided a place for the beans to grow. The pumpkins grew underneath the corn and made it undesirable for animals to enter the garden. They also complement each other nutritionally and provide a sustainable diet if meat is scarce.
The winter squash was taken over to Spain with Christopher Columbus, but it did not spread as well as the tomato and corn. Winter squash needs warm temperatures and a longer growing season to produce nicely. There are now many varieties and many ways to grow a nice harvest of winter squash, despite their requirements. They make a nice addition to the food cellar for eating garden vegetables in the winter.
Planting and Growing:
Winter Squash do not like frost and should be sown outdoors once the danger of frost has subsided. You can sow them indoors 2 weeks before the last frost, but they are quite sensitive to transplanting, and might be better sown directly in the garden. If you do transplant, be sure to not disturb the roots and plant at the same level as the soil in the pot.
Warm up your soil before planting to extend the growing season by putting down a clear or black plastic. Know that the clear plastic will also help all the weed seeds to germinate, so when it is pulled off, there will be some weeds to pull.
Plant winter squash and pumpkins in hills 4 feet (1.2 m) apart. After planting them, you can put a row cover over the top to keep soil and plants warm, but don't allow the cover to rest on the top of the plants. Remove the row cover when plants begin to flower.
When soil temperatures warm past 75 degrees F (24 degrees C) spread organic mulch 3 to 4 inches (7 to 10 cm) thick. Squash will need heavy watering, especially during fruiting and maturing of fruits. They also need to be fertilized every 3 to 4 weeks with a nitrogen rich organic fertilizer.
Harvesting and Preserving:
Squash are usually mature when the stem starts to shrivel and die back, and the skin of the squash is not easily scratched with a fingernail; however, pumpkins usually have a softer skin. When harvesting the squash, leave a couple of inches of stem so that it stores better. Also, cure it in the sun for 10 or so days to help harden the skin. Do not let frost get it. Cover or bring in if frost is forecasted.
After bringing them in for storage, wash them with 1-gallon water to ½ cup chlorine solution to keep them from getting any bacteria growth during storage. Leave space and air between squash to allow good air circulation.
Freezing is also an excellent way to preserve squash. Wash and cut into quarters or smaller, and steam until tender 45-60 minutes. Then, mash or puree. Pack into freezer bags in proper portions for individual use, making sure to press out all the air. Wait until it is cool to put in freezer.
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