"Dave_S" wrote in message
...
My Acorn Squash (maybe Table Queen) look mature and size has stopped
increasing. They are large, heavy, dark green with thick stems. They
have been that color and size for weeks. When to remove from vine is my
question. Vines still look healthy with large green leaves. No new
blossoms. Can the squash continue to ripen by hanging on the healthy vines
all summer long? I live in hot San Fernando Valley. Every day, near noon
time (90F or hotter), these plants show extreme wilting leaves.


I pick winter squash mid season and then I get a second harvest... in your
climate you can probably get a third. There is no point in leaving squash
on the vine once it is obviously mature, even picked a bit early is fine,
you'll have less mature seeds is all... once the seeds mature the plant will
stop producing. Unless you're going to enter a contest for the largest
acorn squash there is no reason to leave the fruit any longer past a size
suitable for cooking... young squash are tastier and much easier to slice.