I have spaghetti squash and butternut and pumpkin in my garden,
When should I pick these, I have read a lot about not to pick them
until after the first hard freeze etc.
We've had nice weather here and some frost already but no snow or
hard freeze yet.
Most of the squash looks ripe, perfect color.
We're supposed to have snow this week, should I pick them before it
snows ?

I also have some butternuts that are very close to being ripe, in
color anyway, should I leave them a while longer and see if they ripen
outside.
It can snow this week and be back to 70 in a few days around here.

Also, how do I know winter squash is really ripened, something about
a thumbnail test is what I've heard.

Thank You
Craig
Denver, CO.

"Craig" wrote in message
ups.com...
I have spaghetti squash and butternut and pumpkin in my garden,
When should I pick these, I have read a lot about not to pick them
until after the first hard freeze etc.
We've had nice weather here and some frost already but no snow or
hard freeze yet.
Most of the squash looks ripe, perfect color.
We're supposed to have snow this week, should I pick them before it
snows ?

I also have some butternuts that are very close to being ripe, in
color anyway, should I leave them a while longer and see if they ripen
outside.
It can snow this week and be back to 70 in a few days around here.

Also, how do I know winter squash is really ripened, something about
a thumbnail test is what I've heard.

Thank You
Craig
Denver, CO.


I always pick mine based on color. Cut the stems carefully, leaving maybe an
inch or so on the squash. Your climate's about 2 weeks ahead of mine
(Western NY). Pick them now if they look right. There *is* a thumbnail test,
but it involves slightly puncturing the skin, which does NOT help any
vegetable last longer. And, if the squash freeze outdoors, they often become
messy once they defrost.

On Oct 16, 7:07*am, "JoeSpareBedroom" wrote:
..I always pick mine based on color. Cut the stems carefully, leaving
maybe an
inch or so on the squash. Your climate's about 2 weeks ahead of mine
(Western NY). Pick them now if they look right. There *is* a thumbnail test,
but it involves slightly puncturing the skin, which does NOT help any
vegetable last longer. And, if the squash freeze outdoors, they often become
messy once they defrost.-

Okay, I will pick most of them tonight.
What about the butternut squash that are almost at the right color
but not quit yet, if I pick them do they ripen off the vine in the
house or should I leave them out and just cover them at night.

Craig

"Craig" wrote in message
ups.com...


On Oct 16, 7:07am, "JoeSpareBedroom" wrote:
..I always pick mine based on color. Cut the stems carefully, leaving
maybe an
inch or so on the squash. Your climate's about 2 weeks ahead of mine
(Western NY). Pick them now if they look right. There *is* a thumbnail
test,
but it involves slightly puncturing the skin, which does NOT help any
vegetable last longer. And, if the squash freeze outdoors, they often
become
messy once they defrost.-

Okay, I will pick most of them tonight.
What about the butternut squash that are almost at the right color
but not quit yet, if I pick them do they ripen off the vine in the
house or should I leave them out and just cover them at night.

Craig

+++++++++++++++++

Cover the vines, but put sticks under the covers to minimize contact between
the covers and the leaves. And, keep a close eye on the undersides of the
squash. If vegetation beneath them gets frost killed, it'll turn to mush and
it could adversely affect the squash. Put straw or wood chips under them, if
necessary.

"Craig" wrote in message
ups.com...
I have spaghetti squash and butternut and pumpkin in my garden,
When should I pick these, I have read a lot about not to pick them
until after the first hard freeze etc.


Craig, don't let them stay out during a freeze. If you don't have too many,
you could take them inside during the cold spells, and back out during the
warm days. This will help them dry out inside. I try to leave them on the
vine until the vine dies, and turns brown, and if I can, I leave them on the
back porch in the sun for 10 days, as long as the temps stay above freezing.

I entered some of 2005's butternut and spaghetti in our fair in August of
this year. The spaghetti went bad around the end of Sept, but I still have
a butternut from last year.

I am in Colby, KS (about 240 miles East of you) and might have a little
longer growing season than you. I would think the same rules would apply to
both.

Dwayne