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Last night when I popped to the lottie after being away 5 days I found a number of my squashes with bits eaten out of them, and one with a big hole and all the seeds removed.  I know this is the work of the local rat, and there is probably not much I can do to protect them, so I decided to harvest all the ones that looked like they might be full size.  It doesn't help that I don't know how to tell when they're full size, although the rat seems to be able to tell!

I'd read somewhere that you should try and leave winter squashes on the plant for as long as possible so that the skin develops like it should for storage. Obviously if I do this I'm going to end up with no squashes at all!  So is there anything I can do to the ones I've harvested to ensure that they'll keep well.


Thanks

sweet-pea

I don't think you'll be able to store your winter squash unless they had time to ripen on the vine to get those hard skins sweet'pea. But if you treat them like giant courgettes and eat them now, I think you'll be pleased with them anyhoo. I picked a small one (confession time, over-zealous pruning :-[) this morning. Just cut it through to see it was OK, and took an experimental bite ... then another one ... then ate the whole thing like an apple, it was refreshing and SWEET! :D

How annoying of nasty Mr Rat. He might have been looking for water too. Have you tried leaving some out in a tub for him to drink? Maybe worth a try.

I think it depends on the type. On the left here is a piccie of my little helper holding our first Golden Nugget of the year which was quicker than expected (picked a week ago).  I think to cure the skin you sit them in the sun the opposite way up from how they grew, for a week or two. If they're picked too young, it's best to eat them sooner rather than later and also damaged ones won't store at all.

If they sound hollow when tapped, apparently they're ready. Immature ones won't taste so good, but often shop ones have been picked too young.

Quote from: OllieC on July 27, 2006, 11:16:05
How annoying of nasty Mr Rat. He might have been looking for water too. Have you tried leaving some out in a tub for him to drink? Maybe worth a try.

Have you tried rat poison near the squashes.

You could put a chicken wire frame around them

Quote from: OllieC on July 27, 2006, 11:16:05
How annoying of nasty Mr Rat. He might have been looking for water too. Have you tried leaving some out in a tub for him to drink? Maybe worth a try.

I hadn't thought of that so might try it.  I did scatter some rat poison around the remaining squashes last night so hopefully that will save the remaining ones.  And I hadn't thought of the chicken wire so will have to try and remember to give it a try next year.

I seem to think the ones I picked might be mature ones because they've all stopped growing whereas some of the others I left on have grown loads whist I was away.  I also think they were pretty hollow sounding, so I'll place them in the sun and see what happens.

Thanks for the advice

Sweet-pea