Winter squash are comfy, warm-weather vegetation very similar to summer time squashes. Alternatively, wintry weather squashes—against this to summer time squashes—should completely mature on the vine prior to reap.
Summer season squashes can also be picked and eaten immature; they have got a succulent texture. Winter squashes are drier and further fibrous than summer time squashes.
Winter squashes include acorn, banana, buttercup, butternut, cushaw delicious, Hubbard, marrow, and pumpkin.
Sow wintry weather squash indoor 4 to a couple of weeks previous to the remainder expected frost in spring. Sow wintry weather squash out of doors when the soil temperature has warmed to 70°F (21°C). Give protection to squash throughout the garden from cool temperatures with row covers.
Summer season squash mature 60 to 100 frost-free days after sowing.
Winter Squash Sowing and Planting Guidelines
- Expand wintry weather squash from seeds or seedlings.
- Squash seeds are viable for 6 years.
- Direct sow wintry weather squash throughout the garden in spring in any case danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed to 70°F (21°C). In warm-winter spaces, sow squash in midwinter for harvest in early summer time.
- Winter squash seeds isn’t going to germinate at a soil temperature beneath 66°F (18°C).
- To begin out vegetation indoors, sow seed in peat pots 4 to a couple of weeks previous to the remainder frost in spring. The indoor temperature should be 66°F to 85°F (18-29°C) until germination.
- Sow seed ½ to 1 inch (1.3-2.5 cm) deep.
- Seeds germinate in 4 to 10 days at 85°F (29°C) or warmer.
- Transplant wintry weather squash into the garden after the soil has warmed to a minimum of 70°F (21°C).
- Area vegetation throughout the garden 12 to 18 inches (30-45 cm) apart in all directions.
- Winter squash will have the benefit of the warm soil created by the use of planting on hills or mounds; raise the soil 12 inches (30 cm) tall and 20 inches (50 cm) large and expand explicit individual vegetation on hills. Area hills 4 to 5 feet (1.2-1.5 m) apart.
- Water to stick the soil from drying.
- Fertilize with fish emulsion or a soluble entire fertilizer at phase power.
- Add aged compost to planting beds prematurely of transplanting.
- Winter squash prefers a soil pH range of 5.5 to 6.8.
- Expand wintry weather squash in entire sun for perfect yield.
- Steer clear of planting wintry weather squash where cucumbers or melons have grown in recent years.
- Common squash pest enemies include aphids, cucumber beetles, flea beetles, squash bugs, squash vine borers, slugs, and snails.
- Common illnesses include bacterial wilt, fusarium wilt, downy mildew, powdery mildew, and cucumber mosaic.
Additional tips at Learn the way to Expand Winter Squash.
Interplanting: Plant wintry weather squash with bush beans, corn, dill, eggplant, lettuce, cucumbers, summer time squash, and tomatoes.
Container Emerging: Squashes are not a good choice for container emerging. They require essential room to spread and expand.
Winter Squash Planting Calendar
- 4-3 weeks previous to the remainder frost in spring: get began seed indoors for transplanting into the garden later.
- 2-3 weeks after the remainder frost in spring: transplant seedlings to the garden.
- 3 weeks after the remainder frost in spring: direct sow seed throughout the garden; minimum soil temperature 65°
Winter Squash Really useful Types
There are many types and kinds of wintry weather squash; listed here are a few:
- Acorn: acorn-shaped, dark green fruit to 2 pounds.
- Banana: simple gray-green pores and pores and skin, gentle orange flesh to 18 inches long.
- Butternut: tan-yellow pores and pores and skin, orange fleshy pulp; elongated pear-shape with a bulbous compartment of seeds at the blossom end
- Buttercup: squat acorn shape; blackish-green rind with yellow-orange flesh.
- Cushaw: green-striped gourd to 15 inches long.
- Hubbard: bluish, gray, orange, or dark green, simple and warty pores and pores and skin.
- Pumpkins are wintry weather squashes.
- Turban: bright-colored, turban-shaped shells 6 to 7 inches in diameter.
Botanical Names: Cucurbita maxima, Cucurbita moschata, Cucurbita pepo.
Winter squash are participants of the Cucurbitaceae family; other participants cucumbers, melons, watermelon, and pumpkins.
Additional tips at Squash and Pumpkin Emerging Guidelines.
