When is the right time to pick a squash or Pumpkin?

[Mushy Pea]

Hi Folks,

Just a quickie. This is our first real venture into squashes and pumpkins and although we tried some patty pans last year (very tasty) I just wonder when you pick them.  ???

Can you eat them small or do you have to wait until the frosts etc?

Thank you for your comments/suggestions.

MP

[Mushy Pea]

[pigeonseed]

If they're summer squash - usually fairly small, then they're denser and tasty. But as they get bigger they get more marrow-like, which can also be nice.

Winter squash - best tp leave them on the vine as long as you dare - you don't want a frost to turn them to mush, but it's good to let them ripen, I think it might aid storage, and flavour.

[Jeannine]

You can eat winter squash whenever you like really but..... they will be like courgettes. For true winter squash flavour and the ability to store them,leave them on the vine till it withers,unless frost or mildew start in which case pull them then. When you gather them in they need to be cured,outside in the sun is best but if not possible do it in a warm room, once you can no longer make a mark with your fingernail in the rind they are cured. Now move them to a cool place to store..not the greenhouse it will get too cold. Store them not touching,  Hanging in tights is good. When you pick them from the vine leave a long handle on ideally with a couple of stems coming off that..but don't carry it by the handle.

When ready to store, wipe down with 10% solution of bleach and water.

The starches in the squash turn to sugar in storage which is where the sweet taste come from..

Eat all the baby immature ones at picking time as courgettes.

Golden rule.. Cure in warm, store in cool

XX Jeannine

[Digeroo]

I have a large dark green Butternut Squash type fruit which is getting enormous but no other fruit is forming.  Can I remove the fruit now to stop it getting any bigger and persuade a few more to grow? 

[Jeannine]

Are there any more on the way? XX Jeannine

[Digeroo]

It keeps producing more but they keep falling off.

[Jeannine]

They are not getting pollinated, I am concerned that it is getting late, with that squash I doubt very much if you have time in the season to get one pollinated and get to full maturity so I don't think you will have anything to gain by pulling it..by leaving it you will get it bigger and more mature.

XX Jeannine

[Digeroo]

If it gets much bigger it will take a month to eat it and a forklift to get it into the kitchen ;D.  There is another 9 weeks before we might expect a frost. 

[Jeannine]

Well pick it ;D It is hard not to I know, XX Jeannine

[Mushy Pea]

Here is a couple of piccys.



This is the "biggy".  ;D
It is one we were given to try but don't know the name of. It is starting to turn orange. Do we wait until it is fully orange to allow the skin to thicken before picking?



This is a flatter but stripy sort. Can we pick them and allow them to mature at home?

Sorry for all the questions.

MP

[realfood]

Mushy pea, I would certainly leave them to harden off, on the plant, until the plant dies down and the connecting fruit stem goes hard and corky. That way you get most flavour and sweetness.

[Jeannine]

looking good, I would leave them alone for sure till the plants dies down or gets mildew, pull it if you get frost though. It is still growing

Just one thing the stem on that one won't go corky, it is the not the family that does, the stem will go hard.

XX Jeannine