CucurbitsCucurbitaceae
Winter Squash.
At a glance
The spec sheet.
- Direct sow / out
- May 25 – Jun 5
- Germ
- 5–10 days
- Days to harvest
- 85–110
- Spacing
- 48" (bush), 72" (vine)
- Depth
- 1"
- Square-foot
- 2 squares per plant (vine)
- Qty target
- 3–5 vines = winter supply for pies, soups, roasted sides.
Plant
Direct sow. Butternut, kabocha, delicata, acorn — the storage crops. Give them room; vining varieties spread 15+ feet.
Care
Pinch off vine tips in late August to redirect energy to fruit. Watch for squash bug and vine borer.
Harvest
When rinds resist thumbnail. Cut with 2" stem attached; cure 10 days in sun for storage. Do NOT wash before storing.
Whole storage 4–6 months cool & dry. Also pressure-canned puree, roasted-and-frozen cubes.
Companion planting
What winter squash likes, and doesn’t.
Good neighbors
- Corn (Three Sisters)
- Melon
- Beans
- Sunflowers
- Nasturtiums
- Oregano
- Marigolds
- Dill
- Marjoram
- Brassicas
- Potatoes
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