How to grow…Winter Squash
Ok so…why am I talking about winter squash in March? Well…
I love it
It takes some serious planning to grow winter squash
Why not? Winter squash is awesome!
I love to grow winter squash almost as much as I love to eat it. There are so many varieties of winter squash out there. It’s way more than just pumpkins. They can be any shape or size. There are bush varieties and varieties that can take over your garden. Depending on the variety, squash tastes sweet, savory, nutty, or earthy.
What makes a winter squash isn’t that you grow it in winter. It’s actually the opposite. Winter squash is a warm season crop. It generally has a pretty long growing season, typically taking about 100 days to harvest, but our frost free season is usually around 130-150 days. So there should usually be enough time before frost to allow the plants to reach maturity. (Who knows in Colorado - some years we get that labor day frost, other years we don’t get frost until late November.)
Read on to find out more about growing winter squash.
Winter squash typically needs a large area so the vines can spread. The plants also do well on a sturdy trellis or arch. Sow seeds 1/2”-1” deep in a small mound after the last frost. I like to place 3-4 seeds about 1” apart in a triangle pattern. Once your seeds germinate you can either thin to one plant by cutting others at soil level, or just have more plants. If winter sowing seeds or starting indoors, place groups of transplants about 4’- 8’ apart. Smaller fruit will typically need less space for the vines to grow. Take care when transplanting as squash don’t like to have their roots disturbed too much.
The fruit is ready for harvesting when the skin is hard (you cannot pierce it with your finger nail) and the skin has turned brown and woody. Cut the stem at least 2” away from the fruit.
Store the squash in a cool, dry place. Depending on the variety, they can store for 3-8 months.
Since winter squash is the set it and forget it of garden produce, you don’t really need to do much over the growing season. I like to fertilize plants with worm castings (or a low nitrogen fertilizer) during the season. I usually get to it once or twice but some people (with a lot of free time) will fertilize every two weeks.
Early signs of powdery mildew
Advanced powdery mildew
Keep an eye on pests (squash beetle, I’m talking about you) and once we hit mid July/August, you will likely see powdery mildew on the leaves. If only a few leaves are affected you can remove them (sanitize the shears afterward). If there is a lot you can a fungicide like neem oil on the affected leaves.
As the season goes on I’ll be posting some of my favorite winter squash recipes. Make sure to subscribe to our email list to get notified when we post!
It’s never too late to plan your garden.
We can help you find the perfect place for your very own winter squash!
