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Winter Squash Growing Guide

Winter Squash (Cucurbita maxima)

Winter squash is harvested when it has reached full maturity, typically indicated by a hard rind, deep color, and dry stems. Unlike summer squash, which are harvested while immature, winter squash has a much longer shelf life—ranging from several months to up to a year—depending on the variety and storage conditions.

The terms "winter" and "summer" squash can be misleading because both are warm-season crops. However, winter squash is specifically grown for storage over the colder months, making it more suitable for long-term preservation

• Acorn — Acorn squash are deeply ridged and tapered at one end. They have a dark green rind and a firm yellow flesh. They weigh 1-3 lbs. Both bush and vining types are available.
• Butternut and Waltham Butternut — These have cylindrical fruit that often bulge around the seed cavity. They have light tan rinds with orange flesh and are vining in growth habit.
• Buttercup and Turk's Turban — These turban-shaped squash have rinds that can be multicolored with green, orange, or gray stripes. The flesh is medium orange.
• Spaghetti Squash — This squash is also called vegetable spaghetti. These cylindrical (8-9” long) fruit have yellow flesh that is stringy.
• Hubbard — These are round in general shape but taper to a point at the bloom end. The rind is rough bluish-gray to green with occasional gray stripes. The flesh is orange-yellow in color.

Temperature

Sow in late spring after frost danger when soil is warm, minimum 62°F for treated seeds and 70°F for untreated seeds — seeds will rot in cool soil, especially cool, wet soil.

Soil

Fertile, well-drained soil is best.

Planting

Winter squash, especially the vining types, typically require a growing period of 80-120 days to reach full maturity. When planting vining squash, you will need about 2 pounds of seed per acre. The recommended planting layout for these squash varieties is 5-8 feet between rows and 2.5-5 feet within rows to allow for proper growth and air circulation.

To advance the harvest and boost yields, squash can also be seeded or transplanted into plastic mulch with trickle irrigation. This method helps warm the soil, retain moisture, and reduce weed growth, leading to earlier harvests and higher overall yields.

Spacing

24-60” in row and 72-120” between rows

Harvest

Before heavy frost, cut stems about 1" from the fruit when stem is drying and skin is hardening. Handle fruits like eggs.

For More Information

• University of Georgia – Commercial Squash Production
• Auburn University – Winter Squash
• Oregon State – Squash, Pumpkin, and Winter
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