![]() See this helpful video on how to sow seeds. Use row covers to prevent insect problems early in the season Remember to remove covers before flowering to allow pollination by insects.If necessary, use row covers or frame protection in cold climates for the first few weeks of spring.The seeds should germinate in about a week with the right soil temperature (70✯ / 21☌ or more).Consider planting a few squash seeds in midsummer to avoid problems from squash vine borers and other early-season pests and diseases.Or, sow 3 to 4 seeds close together in small mounds (or hills the soil is warmer off the ground) in rows 3 to 6 feet apart. Sow seeds in level ground 1 inch deep with seeds 2 to 3 feet apart.Or, for a larger garden area, add 2 to 3 pounds of balanced fertilizer for each 100 square feet. Work it into the top 3 to 4 inches of soil. Scatter the fertilizer evenly over a 2-foot by 2-foot area. If you plan to grow only a few plants, use 2 to 3 tablespoons of a balanced (10-10-10) fertilizer for each hill.Squash seedlings do not always transplant well, so handle the roots gently. If you have a short growing season, start seeds in peat pots 2 to 4 weeks before your last spring frost date.Direct-sow (i.e., plant seeds directly in the ground) when all danger of frost has passed and the soil is at least 60☏, preferably 70☏.Most full-size winter squash varieties need 50 to 100 square feet to spread. Soil must be well fed and moist (not soggy) and well draining. Mix aged manure and/or compost (about 50% native soil to organic matter) deep into the soil a couple weeks before planting. Plant squash in a location with full sun and lots of space for sprawling vines. When grown together, the squash serves as a ground cover to prevent weeds from growing, beans provide natural fertilizer for all three plants, and corn provides a support system for the beans. Squash is one of the three plants grown in the traditional Native American style called the Three Sisters, along with beans and corn. Over several generations, these plants have been cultivated to produce fruit in all kinds of shapes, colors, and flavors. Varieties include acorn, butternut, delicata, Hubbard, pumpkin, and spaghetti.ĭespite the great diversity of squash, most commonly grown cultivated varieties belong to one of three species: Some varieties will keep through winter, hence the name winter squash. Squash have a relatively long shelf life. ![]() Winter squash are harvested in late summer or autumn, just before or after their fruits reach full maturity. See your local frost dates and length of growing season. Growing winter squash requires some patience, but this garden vegetable is well worth the wait-and most varieties have a long shelf life after harvest. From butternut squash to acorn squash, learn how to plant, grow, harvest, and cure winter squash in your home garden! About Winter Squashīecause winter squash requires a long growing season (generally from 75 to 100 frost-free days), the seeds are generally planted by late May in northern locations to early July in extremely southern states.
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