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| Photo: Joyce D'Agostino |
Now that we are approaching September, its a good time to review how to harvest and store some of your garden produce. Crops like winter squash and pumpkins are ideal for long term storage and can provide great nutrition throughout the winter months.
Winter squash is different than other squash such as zucchini and yellow squash which have thinner and more tender skin and are not suitable for storage. Examples of winter squash include Butternut, Hubbard, Acorn and Kabocha. This type of squash take almost the entire season to produce fruit and mature. Their firm skins and flesh make them durable for longer term storage and there is a wide variety of sizes, shapes and colors.
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| Photo: Joyce D'Agostino |
Pumpkins also develop a firmer skin at maturity and can be kept in storage as well. Both pumpkins and winter squash are ready when they have fully developed their characteristic skin color and their stems have turned brown. Since some varieties could have specific criteria to determine when they are ready, refer to your seed packet or seed catalog for additional tips.
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| Photo: Joyce D'Agostino |
Once harvested, you can lightly wash the squash and pumpkins and allow them to air dry and cure before bringing inside to store.
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| Photo: Joyce D'Agostino |
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| Photo: Joyce D'Agostino |
Check your Extension information to find the average date of your first frost and following hard frosts. Some squash and pumpkins can tolerate a light frost but if a hard frost is approaching, you should harvest any pumpkins and squash still on the vine and bring inside. When stored properly some may finish ripening indoors.
If you didn’t grow a winter squash or pumpkin this year, make note to try it next growing season. It is fun and gratifying to have your own homegrown Halloween pumpkin or winter squash to serve at your Thanksgiving dinner.
Refer to the helpful publications below regarding end of the season harvesting and storage of your winter squash and pumpkins: Storage, Pumpkins, Fall Squash, HarvestStories, Vegetables