There are many squash varieties in supermarkets in the fall.Some pumpkins are good for eating while others are watery.Like so many vegetables and fruits on the market, the commercial varieties are often chosen for criteria other than flavor, but there's a huge variety of types that you can grow yourself.
Step 1: You can choose varieties based on space and climate.
If you have a long warm season, you can grow almost anything, but make sure to pick early-ripening types.Squash can grow on vines that cover a lot of ground, so if you only have 12 x 12 foot space, you're better off with a bush variety.There are a lot of details found on the packaging.There are a few basics to consider.The squash is bottle-shaped and has a brown rind.It is one of the most popular and delicious.This type has a smooth texture and is resistant to squash vine borers.They will store for at least six months.Buttercup squash.This type is similar to the butternut squash, but it matures faster.It is good for areas with a shorter growing season.Heavy crops of squat, green fruits are likely to be produced by each plant.Four to six months is how long this type stores for.There are Hubbard squash and kabocha squash.Due to their similarities, the two types are often clumped together.They can be small or large.They don't have as much flesh as other winter squash.All varieties will store for four to six months.There are two squashes: dicata and dumpling squash.Pumpkin- and cylinder-shaped squash are available.Both produce ivory-colored fruits with green stripes that turn orange when stored.These are easy to grow in a cool climate.They will store for three to five months.There is a squash.A ribbed, round fruit with gold or green rinds is this type.They will store for at least three months.They are popular in areas with short summers as they don't take much time to mature.There is a vegetable called spaghetti squash.These are named because they look like pasta.The oblong fruits have smooth rinds that vary from tan to orange, and they will last for three to six months.
Step 2: You should plant your seeds after the last frost.
Squash seeds should be planted at the beginning of spring when the soil is warm enough to grow squash.You can plant them indoors under fluorescent lights.You can plant your seeds in early summer in zone 6.You should stop planting after 14 weeks.If you have a short growing season, you can grow them indoors and then transfer them to the outside when the weather warms up.If you want to plant the entire pot when you transplant them outside, you should use bio-degradable pots.Squash can be removed from a plastic pot.
Step 3: Prepare the soil.
Adding lots of organic matter to your garden will help squash grow and produce better.The best way to nourish your plants is with rotted manure and compost.The squash's roots will be easy to penetrate if you dig them deeply.Squash can be planted in hills.They help the squash grow by warming the soil and increasing drainage.In areas that are well-drained, hills can give your plants a boost by providing warm soil as they begin to grow.Hills do not always mean a raised area.If you have fast-draining soil and a dry climate, you might make depressions with a wide ridge around them to hold water.Extra compost/manure should be added to the area under the hills.
Step 4: In a sunny spot, plant six seeds per hill.
They need their space so you want each hill to be part of a 3-ft wide row.Between the hills, leave about 5 to 6 feet.The soil can be loosened up to a foot below the surface to ensure adequate drainage.They should show up in 10 days.If you have a short season, you can get a jump on your growing time by planting them indoors, but if you plant too early and squash become rootbound in their pots, it will stunt their growth.Water them after planting.They need the first burst of water.
Step 5: You should give your plants 1 inch.
.This is enough to keep your plants strong.If you live in a dry climate, you can use flood-style irrigation every few weeks.Remove the weeds so they don't steal your water, a lack of water can stunt your plants, and weeds will use the nutrients you took all that trouble to dig into your soil.If you don't want to do a drip system, you can use simple trenches between the hills to get the water you want.Water standing on leaves can cause disease if it's not watered in the early morning.It is normal for leaves to get a little tender during the heat of the day, but they will usually firm up in the evening.Plants need more water if leaves are wilted early in the day before it gets too hot.
Step 6: Take care of your plants.
Once your plants have put on a few leaves, it's a good idea to kill all but two or three of them at the very least per hill.There isn't enough room for them to grow up.You may want to put row covers on your plants to protect them from insects and make sure they grow to full capacity.
Step 7: There are bugs and disease.
Squash bugs and squash vine borers can be found in the US.Squash bugs suck the plant's juices.Borers are insects that kill the stem beyond the damage.Eggs can be found under the leaves and along the ground.If you live in Europe, you don't have those insects, but other things can still damage your plants.When your female flowers show up, you have to remove the floating row covers so they can be pollinated.If you want to control aphids, use soap spray or water."Powdery mildew" is a non-bug that you need to look out for.In the second half of their growing, spray the plants with a mixture of one part milk to six parts water every two weeks.
Step 8: Consider increasing the amount offertilizer.
You can add a side dressing offertilizer to the vines in about a month.If you dig too close, you'll damage the roots they send down.Depending on the variety you've planted, they won't be fully ripe for about 80 to 120 days.There's still time for them to take care of themselves.
Step 9: Look for flowers.
You should start seeing flowers by this point.The first flowers are usually male and will not produce fruit.The female flowers are not as recognizable as the male flowers due to the swelling below the base of the flower.Your future squash is swelling.You may not have enough bees to pollinate them if they don't form into squash.You have to pollinate them yourself by going out early in the morning and taking the central pollen-covered organ of the male flower and brushing it all over the female flowers.
Step 10: The swelling will get bigger.
If the flower doesn't last long, you'll know if the pollination was a success.All you have to do is keep your vines watered and weeded, and watch out for diseases.You don't want wet soil all the time; during a warm summer you'll probably water every few days or so.They definitely need a drink if they see wilted leaves.
Step 11: Under developing squash, consider using straw.
If you want to keep your squash off the ground and free of rot, you can put a bed of straw under them.If squash is not forming in a wet depression and you don't overwater, rot should not be a problem.
Step 12: You should reap the fruits of your labor.
When you can't pierce the skin with your fingernails, winter squash are usually ripe.You should get them in before the frost if you leave them on the vine.It's important to keep immature fruits growing for as long as possible because they don't store well.You will probably get three to five squash per plant.Remove the vines with clippers and leave as much stem as you can.Squash will rot if it is lifted by the stem.Damage to the skins would create an entry point for rot.
Step 13: Squash can be Cured for Storage.
The skins of the better varieties need to be left in a warm place for 3 to 5 days so that they can be protected from diseases.Hubbard and related types benefit from curing.If you want to keep the squash cool from harvest and use them within a few months, you should cure them.A warm place should be 70 to 80F.If you want to get rid of dirt on the plant before this stage, you should use a damp cloth.The stem is dried and sealed during the curing process.
Step 14: Squash should be kept in a cool place.
It should be dry or wet.A cool room of a house, an unheated sun porch, a cool cellar, and even under your bed are all possibilities.If you see signs of rot, keep your eyes open.It is necessary to check every week or two.