How to Harvest and Store Winter Squash

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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"Winter squash" is a bit of a misnomer. They're grown in the summer, just as summer squash are, with the difference being that winter squash are not harvested until late summer, about two to four months after sowing seeds.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Gardening Gloves
Knife

Step1

Harvest winter squash when the vines have dried and the skins are hard and can't be scratched with a fingernail - but before the first hard frost.

Step2

Harvest acorn squash when the spot touching the ground turns yellowish orange.

Step3

Cut the squash with a knife about two inches above the stem.

Step4

Store in a warm, dry area with good air circulation for up to six months. Store acorn squash in a slightly cooler and moister environment.

Step5

Bake winter squash, or puree them for cooking and baking. For longer storage, can, freeze or dry the cooked pulp.

Tips & Warnings

Commonly planted winter varieties include acorn squash, butternut squash and Hubbard squash. Unusual varieties include spaghetti squash and melon squash.