winter squash

celliott@lincoln.midcoast 3/21/2014, 3:50 pm

Looking for suggestions for a winter squash to grow on a trellis.

boffer 3/21/2014, 4:01 pm

Welcome to the forum.

As far as I know, one can grow any winter squash on a trellis.

You may not have a long enough growing season for some of the squashes that take 100+ days to maturity.

We have some members from your neck of the woods, so they'll be able to give you more specific advice.

$glad you\'re here$

**sanderson** 3/21/2014, 4:32 pm

Celliott, Welcome to the Forum! $glad you\'re here$

Other members in your area will be able to give better advice on fast growing varieties.

Marc Iverson 3/22/2014, 1:42 am

Boffer is spot on. Call your county agricultural extension office, or look up their site online, to get the word on the ones best adapted for your local area, as well as their local insect and critter and disease predators. That kind of knowledge is gold.

audrey.jeanne.roberts 3/22/2014, 1:52 am

I don't know how long spaghetti squash takes but it seems like the fastest of all the squash I grow so I'm betting you would be able to grow it.

We harvested over 30 last season and I have my last one in the pantry now :-)

celliott@lincoln.midcoast 3/22/2014, 9:15 am

Thanks all for help. sunny

Nonna.PapaVino 3/22/2014, 10:17 am

Last year we made an arch of cattle panels and trained both Italian Potimarron (similar to a Japanese Red Kuri) and Thelma Saunders acorn squashes up the arch. Quite a site to see the fruits hanging above our heads from the arch. The acorns did quite well, but we had to rig slings under the larger Potimarrons. N0nna

FamilyGardening 3/23/2014, 1:13 am

make sure its a vining squash....and not a bush squash... Very Happy

happy gardening
rose.

Marc Iverson 3/23/2014, 1:28 am

FamilyGardening wrote:make sure its a vining squash....and not a bush squash...

happy gardening
rose.

I resemble that remark. I got my trellis all ready last year for my bush zucchini. *sigh*

quiltbea 3/23/2014, 1:10 pm

Celliot......Welcome from a fellow Mainiac. $glad you\'re here$

I'm in zone 5a and we have no problem growing butternut squash each year. Unless you have a much shorter growing time than me, you can probably grow it just fine. At least try it.

Here's some butternuts in mid-sept and some N.E. Pie pumpkins.

**AtlantaMarie** 3/23/2014, 3:59 pm

Welcome Celliot!

Audrey.Jeanne - How many plants did you have? I've got 4 in peat pots right now. And ML won't be eating it... Just me... Have I overplanted?

audrey.jeanne.roberts 3/24/2014, 11:23 am

AtlantaMarie wrote:Welcome Celliot!

Audrey.Jeanne - How many plants did you have? I've got 4 in peat pots right now. And ML won't be eating it... Just me... Have I overplanted?

Yes, you likely have. the 30+ was from 2 in the spring and 2 later for the fall. However, they're great for bartering with any neighbors or friends that are growing things you aren't and for bribing your son-in-law for help around the property Razz

**AtlantaMarie** 3/24/2014, 7:57 pm

Oh, dear. No son-in-law. But neighbors... Hmmmm...

Thanks Audrey.Jeanne.

**sanderson** 12/6/2014, 1:55 am

I'm wondering how long winter squash will store? I think I planted and harvested earlier than I should have last year. Some of the squash are are getting soggy tops. They are stored in the air conditioned kitchen once harvested.

audrey.jeanne.roberts 12/6/2014, 11:52 am

AtlantaMarie wrote:Oh, dear. No son-in-law. But neighbors... Hmmmm...

Thanks Audrey.Jeanne.

I can't wait until next spring to plant your spaghetti squash seeds you sent me!

**Turan** 12/6/2014, 12:16 pm

O dear, soggy tops does not sound good. You probably better open all those and make stew or soup or pie with the good parts.

I use my squash in the order of least ripe is used first, within the month of harvest, and then on from there. Fully ripened and cured squash should last 3-6 months.

I am trying to remember when I planted butternut squash when in SanDeigo area. They did very well and we used them all winter. Maybe the way to figure it would be to look at how long it takes to harvest and then count back from when you suspect best to harvest them would be. Give a cushion because they do not all fruit in one rush. My guess is you need to harvest by late November. Giving them 5 months should be enough so start them in July? Hopefully some one with more recent experience will speak up.

**sanderson** 12/6/2014, 1:03 pm

Turan, thanks for replying (and anyone else who also replies with their experience). I caught on to using the least ripe first. So, counting back, they are starting to reach their "best used buy" dates. I wonder if they are suitable for canning.

audrey.jeanne.roberts 12/6/2014, 1:31 pm

I'm fairly certain that you can cube them, roast them in the oven then freeze them. I haven't tried it but I'm pretty sure I read about it elsewhere.

I also freeze soups made with them and have quick lunches available all winter.

I plant them as early as they'll grow and simply enjoy eating the earliest fruit right when they're ready to harvest, then put away the later ones. My Butternut produced boat loads this year and last. I have acorn, potimarron and an unidentified cross breed. The laundry room closet is full and the rest is sitting on top of my hubby's territory (the washer and dryer) and he's giving me grumpy looks about them all the time, LOL!

Marc Iverson 12/6/2014, 3:21 pm

I bought a ton of butternut squash (the ones I grew all failed), and am finding new ways to use them. That can help too.

For instance, raw grated butternut squash makes a good slaw or salad topping (love the color there). As a soup, it is great for poaching fish and when concentrated, is a great sauce for fish. And medallions sliced from the neck and grilled or broiled make a beautiful, colorful circle or two under meat or veggies. Alternatively, the medallions look great stacked on each other an inch or so apart, as a foundation for an arranged serving of meats or veggies.

I'm enjoying finding new ways to use it, and at this rate it won't last nearly as long.

**sanderson** 12/6/2014, 4:00 pm

One of my problems is that DH doesn't like winter squash. I think roasting cubes then freezing, will be the best for me.

audrey.jeanne.roberts 12/6/2014, 4:02 pm

It's hard to use garden produce when only one person likes something Smile

Fortunately we mostly like the same things and hubby is always willing to try something new. I used an acorn squash last night to make a creamy pasta sauce, it was amazing.

Marc Iverson 12/6/2014, 4:14 pm

I've done the same thing. Works great.

**sanderson** 12/6/2014, 5:30 pm

Recipe, please.

audrey.jeanne.roberts 12/6/2014, 5:45 pm

I made it up as I went along but it was something like this:
1 tsp of poultry seasoning (maybe a little more)
1/4 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp nutmeg
salt & pepper to taste
2 TBSP cream cheese
1 TBSP Butter
a couple leaves of Swiss Chard
1 medium onion chopped and sauteed in the butter
Your choice of pasta (we used gluten free brown rice spiral pasta)

add in 1 large acorn squash cut in half and face down in my large stock pot.

Brown for a bit then add one chicken bouillon cube and a cup of water. Simmer until complete soft.

Scrape insides of acorn and throw away the skin, toss back into the pot. Add cream cheese and using a stick blender, puree the mix and pour over the pasta. (For lunch today we added thinly sliced chicken italian sausage browned)

Marc Iverson 12/6/2014, 6:04 pm

This is how I make mine. It's smooth enough that it tastes like a cream soup even if you put no cream in it. I just simmer it down to make it thicker, or add more liquid to make it thinner.

I also add a little curry powder or turmeric, as per the reviewer suggestions.

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Butternut-Squash-Soup-with-Star-Anise-and-Ginger-Shrimp-107399

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