Winter Squash
Winter squash is grown in summer; the name "winter" squash developed because these hard rind beauties keep well after fall harvest to eat throughout the cold winter months. Winter squashes are "stored" in their own tough shells simply by keeping them at cool dry temperatures. They are naturally sweet, luscious and nutty and exceptionally high in health-guarding beta-carotene and fiber. You'll love them simply baked or microwaved with perhaps a touch of honey or agave nectar and a little butter. Having a good supply will make you feel both wise and self-reliant.
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Winter Squash Baby Spaghetti
BEST TO START OUTDOORS
Winter squash needs full sun, rich fertile soil and warm temperatures. Wait to plant until temperatures stay above 50°F (10°C) day and night. Sow groups of 2 to 3 seeds 2 feet apart and 1 inch deep in rows 4 feet apart. Thin to 1 strong seedling per group. Or make slightly mounded hills 2 to 3 feet across and 6 feet apart and plant 4 to 5 seeds in each hill. When seedlings have several sets of leaves, thin to the strongest 3 seedlings per hill.
GROWING NOTES
Protect young seedlings from marauding birds by covering with plastic berry baskets at sowing time, removing before plants get crowded. To make picking easier and save space, vines can be trained up trellises or tepees.
HARVEST AND USE
All winter squashes need to mature properly, so wait to pick until rinds are fully colored up from dark green to bright yellow-orange. and tough enough to resist piercing with a fingernail and vines have died back. Then cut, leaving a good stem handle. Let them cure for 10 days in the sun, then store in a cool dry place and they’ll keep for months.
In the kitchen, cut Baby Spaghettis in half and scoop out the seeds, then bake until tender. Fork up the spaghetti-like strands of tender, nutty squash, then top with your favorite sauce or a dollop of butter and a sprinkle of salt.
Regular price $3.99Sale price $3.99Unit price per -
Baby Butternut Squash Climbing Honey Nut
BEST TO START OUTDOORS
Honey Nuts need full sun, rich fertile soil and warm temperatures. Wait to plant until nights are comfortably above 50°F (10°C) both day and night. Sow groups of 2 to 3 seeds 2 ft. apart and 1 in. deep in rows 4 ft. apart. Thin to 1 strong seedling per group to give vines room to ramble or climb. Or make slightly mounded hills 2 to 3 ft. across and 6 ft. apart and plant 4 to 5 seeds in each hill. When seedlings have several sets of leaves, thin to the strongest 3 seedlings per hill.
GROWING NOTES
Protect young seedlings from marauding birds by covering with plastic berry baskets at sowing time, removing before plants get crowded. To save space, and make picking easy, Honey Nut vines can easily be trained up fences, trellises or 4-6 foot tall teepees.
HARVEST AND USE
These delicious little squashes need to mature properly, so don’t harvest until vines have died back and squashes’ exterior rinds are fully colored up from dark green to orangey-tan and tough enough to resist piercing with a fingernail. Then cut squashes from vines, leaving a good stem handle. Let squashes cure in the sun for about 10 days, then store in a cool dry place and they’ll keep for months. In the kitchen, cut Honey Nuts in half then bake until tender. Flesh is meltingly sweet and delicious.Regular price $4.89Sale price $4.89Unit price per -
Sweet Winter Squash Delicata
BEST TO START OUTDOORS
Squash needs full sun, rich fertile soil and warm temperatures. Plant only when weather is warm and settled and night temperatures stay above 50°F (10°C). Make slightly mounded growing hills 2 to3 feet apart. Sow seeds 1 inch deep, 8 inches apart, 4 seeds per hill. Thin seedlings to leave the 2 strongest plants per hill so vines will have room to grow and mature.
GROWING NOTES
Protect young seedlings from marauding birds by covering with plastic berry baskets at sowing time, removing before plants get crowded.
HARVEST AND USE
Delicata needs the full growing season to mature properly. When rinds are tough enough to resist a fingernail, cut fruits from vines with a good stem. Let them cure for 10 days in the sun, then store in a cool dry place. Delicatas should be eaten within 6 weeks of harvest for best flavor. To prepare, simply cut in half and bake, or skin and sauté the sweet flesh to serve with butter and a sprinkling of salt. Add a pinch of sage or thyme for an herbal accent. Or bake with a little butter, cinnamon and honey.Regular price $4.89Sale price $4.89Unit price per -
Winter Squash Duo Early Butternut & Delicata
BEST TO START OUTDOORS
Squash needs full sun, rich, fertile soil and warm temperatures. Plant only when weather is warm and settled and night temperatures stay above 50°F (10°C) both day and night. Make slightly mounded growing hills 2 to 3 feet apart. Plant varieties separately, 1 inch deep, 8 inches apart, 4 seeds per hill. Thin seedlings to leave the 2 strongest plants per hill so vines will have room to grow and mature.
GROWING NOTES
Protect young seedlings from marauding birds by covering with plastic berry baskets at sowing time, removing before plants get crowded.
HARVEST AND USE
Winter squash needs the full growing season to mature properly so it will keep for winter eating. When rinds are tough enough to resist a fingernail, cut fruits from vines with a good stem. Let them cure for 1 week in the sun, then store in a cool dry place. Enjoy Delicata first as they don’t store as long as Early Butternut, which stay in excellent eating condition for several months. Simply cut in half and bake or skin and sauté the sweet flesh to serve with a little butter and a sprinkling of salt or add a pinch of sage or thyme for an herbal accent.
Regular price $4.39Sale price $4.39Unit price per -
Winter Squash Festival Acorn
BEST TO START OUTDOORS
Long keeping winter squash needs full sun, rich fertile soil and warm temperatures. Wait to plant until nights are reliably above 50°F (10°C) both day and night. Sow groups of 2 to 3 seeds 2 ft. apart and 1 in. deep in rows 4 ft. apart. Thin to 1 strong seedling per group to give plants ample room to grow. Or make slightly mounded hills 2 to 3 ft. across and 5 ft. apart and plant 4 to 5 seeds in each hill. When seedlings have several sets of leaves, thin to the strongest 3 seedlings per hill.
GROWING NOTES
Protect young seedlings from marauding birds by covering with plastic berry baskets at sowing time, removing before plants get crowded. Thin seedlings properly; you’ll get more squash from well spaced plants.
HARVEST AND USE
Winter squashes need to mature properly, so don’t harvest until vines have died back and squashes’ exterior rinds are fully colored and tough enough to resist piercing with a fingernail. Then cut squashes from vines, leaving a good stem handle. Cure in the sun for about 10 days, before storing in a cool dry place to keep for 2-4 months. To prepare, cut squash in half and bake until tender.
Regular price $4.69Sale price $4.69Unit price per -
Baby Butternut Squash Honey Nut
BEST TO START OUTDOORS
Winter squash needs full sun, rich fertile soil and warm temperatures. Wait to plant until temperatures stay above 50°F (10°C) day and night. Sow groups of 2 to 3 seeds 2 feet apart and 1 inch deep in rows 4 feet apart. Thin to 1 strong seedling per group to give vines room to ramble or climb. Or make slightly mounded hills 2 to 3 feet across and 6 feet apart and plant 4 to 5 seeds in each hill. When seedlings have several sets of leaves, thin to the strongest 3 seedlings per hill.
GROWING NOTES
Protect young seedlings from marauding birds by covering with plastic berry baskets at sowing time, removing before plants get crowded. To save space, and make picking easy, Honey Nut vines can easily be trained up fences, trellises or teepees 4 to 6 feet tall.
HARVEST AND USE
All winter squashes need to mature properly, so wait to pick until rinds are fully colored up from dark green to orangey-tan and tough enough to resist piercing with a fingernail and vines have died back. Then cut, leaving a good stem handle. Let them cure for 10 days in the sun, then store in a cool dry place and they’ll keep for months. In the kitchen, cut Honey Nuts in half then bake until tender. Flesh is meltingly sweet and delicious.Regular price $4.39Sale price $4.39Unit price per -
Kabocha Winter Squash Kurin
BEST TO START OUTDOORS
Long keeping winter squash needs full sun, rich fertile soil and warm temperatures. Wait to plant until nights are comfortably above 50°F (10°C) both day and night. Sow groups of 2 to 3 seeds 2 ft. apart and 1 in. deep in rows 4 ft. apart. Thin to 1 strong seedling per group to give vines room to ramble or climb. Or make slightly mounded hills 2 to 3 ft. across and 6 ft. apart and plant 4 to 5 seeds in each hill. When seedlings have several sets of leaves, thin to the strongest 3 seedlings per hill.
GROWING NOTES
Protect young seedlings from marauding birds by covering with plastic berry baskets at sowing time, removing before plants get crowded. To save space,vines can be trained up fences, trellises or tepees.
HARVEST AND USE
Winter squashes need to mature properly, so don’t harvest until vines have died back and squashes’ exterior rinds are fully dark green and tough enough to resist piercing with a fingernail. Then cut squashes from vines, leaving a good stem handle. Cure in the sun for about 10 days, before storing in a cool dry place where they will keep for months. To prepare, cut squash in half and bake until tender. Flesh is tender, nutty, sweet and totally delicious.
Regular price $4.99Sale price $4.99Unit price per
