Vegetable Gardening : How to Harvest & Store Winter Squash

Winter squash will grow and flourish during the summer months, but it needs to be removed from the ground before it starts ...

This article is a summary of a YouTube video "Vegetable Gardening : How to Harvest & Store Winter Squash" by Blossom Flower Delivery

🎃 Winter squash was an important food source for early settlers, as it could be stored for months without processing.

🌱 Winter squash comes in various varieties, ranging from colorful carnival squash to the more common butternut squash.

❄️ Winter squash plants thrive during the summer but die back as the weather gets colder.

🔍 Once the plants have died back, look for a hard and crisp stem to determine if the squash is ready for harvest.

🌧️ Winter squash can tolerate rain and cold weather, but it should be harvested before serious freezing occurs.

✂️ To harvest winter squash, use clippers to make a clean cut and prevent any infection.

🌬️ After harvesting, bring the squash to a hot and dry place, such as a greenhouse or attic, to store them.

⚠️ Handle winter squash gently to avoid scratching the surface and causing spoilage.

⏳ Depending on the variety, properly harvested and stored winter squash can last up to four months.

🏺 Butternuts tend to have the longest storage life, while exotic varieties may store well for a month or two.

00:00 Winter Squash was an important food source for early settlers

00:43 Winter squash dies back as summer ends

01:05 Look for a hard and crisp stem

01:14 Harvest before serious freezing

01:24 Use clippers to harvest and prevent infection

01:33 Bring harvested squash to a hot, dry place like a greenhouse

01:40 Handle them gently to avoid scratches and infection

01:57 Winter squash can last up to four months in storage

02:07 Butternuts store the longest

Winter squash was an important food source for early settlers because of its ability to store for months without processing.

Look for the stem to become hard and crisp. If it is still juicy, the squash is not ready yet.

Bring them into a hot dry place, such as a greenhouse or attic, and handle them very gently to prevent infection and spoilage.

Depending on the variety, Winter squash can last up to four months. Butternut squash tends to store longer than most.

Clippers are best to prevent any infection. Make sure to make a clean cut.