How to Grow Acorn Squash in North Georgia
Acorn squash is a delicious traditional fall fruit that makes a number of tasty dishes. Yes, it's a fruit and not a vegetable. Acorn squash is also incredibly healthy. Georgia is one of the top growing states for acorn squash because the warmer weather allows it to be grown longer. Growing winter squash such as acorn squash isn't horribly difficult but it will take hard work and care. The squash itself likes to grow, but pests and plant disease are attracted to the squash. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Plant seeds when the soil temperature reaches 60 degrees Farenheit and stays there. Seeds should be planted in rows or in hills of several seeds. Hills get about four seeds each. Seeds should be planted 1 inch deep whether using hills or rows.
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Mulch plants to help speed up growth. Acorn squash, like other winter squashes, needs three to four months of no frost to grow. This time constraint is why they are considered a fall fruit. Because of the frost danger, acorn squash can't be planted until later spring and grow for most of the summer.
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Weed often. You will probably need to weed by hand to protect the roots of the acorn squash.
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Continue mulching to help keep weeds away. Don't use hay in your mulch as this encourages weed growth.
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Water with drip irrigation. Drip irrigation keeps the ground well watered which is where your plant is deriving its nutrients from for the most part.
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Watch for pests or disease and treat with appropriate pesticides. Your local county extension office (see Resources) can help in telling you what the exact problem is and how to treat it.
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Harvest acorn squash when mature. Signs to look for are vines that are nearly dead and shells that are hard enough that a fingernail cannot poke through.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit assortment of autumn squash image by Roslen Mack from Fotolia.com
