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Picking (harvesting) Winter Squash

Harvesting winter squash varieties including Butternut, Acorn and Spaghetti squashes begins after their skins have hardened. Winter squash will store well for long periods of time after harvest, generally 3 to 4 months. It is important to make sure to harvest fruit before the first frost to prevent damage to the skin. To harvest fruit use a pair of pruning shears to cut the stem about ½ inch above the fruit being careful to not break the stem off of the fruit. Breaking the stem off will cause a wounded area for fruit rots to spoil the squash. Butternut squash are ripe when the outside skin turns a deep flesh color. Acorn squash are mature when the underside of the fruit turns an orange-yellow color where it had laid on the ground. Spaghetti squash is ripe when the skin turns a golden yellow color and hardens. If squash are soiled they can be washed. Store fruit in a warm (at least 55ºF) dry and dark area for extended shelf life.

Tags: Acorn squash, Butternut squash, Spaghetti squash, Squash

Picking (harvesting) Summer Squash

You can start harvesting summer squash once they become 5-6 inches long. Both zucchini squash and yellow summer squash should be harvested before they get longer than 10 inches. Although larger squash can be harvested and are edible, but will not be as tender. Also, large squash may have many hard seeds inside that may not be palatable. Zucchini squash chould be cut from the plant with a knife. (Cut the squash at the small stem that attaches the squash to the plant.) Wearing gloves and long sleeved shirts is a good idea when harvesting zucchini, because they have little spines on the branches.

Take care not to cut the stems or small fruit forming near the fruit you are harvesting. Unlike zucchini, yellow squash can be hand harvested without a knife. Grab the fruit and then twist and pull away from the plant. The fruit of zucchini and yellow summer squash usually have the remains of the flower on the end of the fruit. Simply remove the dried flower by pulling it off. Both of these types of fruit are tender and easily scratched or bruised, so take care when handling them and placing them into harvesting containers. If the fruit are dirty, they can be washed. Refrigerate soon after harvest if not using them right away.

Tags: Squash, Summer squash, Yellow crookneck squash, Zucchini