winter squash-how many?

[desertlady]

I will be planting winter squash or " spaghetti" squash for the first time. I am curious how many does it produce on one vine? and how to pick when its ready ?

 

[lesa]

Winter squash and spaghetti squash are two different things. Spaghetti squash is a summer type (like zucchini and yellow). They are not good keepers. Winter squash is like hubbard, or Butternut. They are good keepers...

 

[desertlady]

I just bought seeds from Burpee on the packages says Winter squash, vegetable spaghetti. Calabaza veg. speghetti. Dont know if the mislabled it.

 

[lesa]

Interesting... I just looked that up and it does indeed say that it is a good keeper. Hmm. News to me. Hopefully, someone with experience with them will chime in...

 

[catjac1975]

I will be planting winter squash or " spaghetti" squash for the first time. I am curious how many does it produce on one vine? and how to pick when its ready ?

They can be eaten at any stage when they achieve a good size.Maybe 8-10 inches. They seem to get better flavored with age. I just leave them in the garden until I use them. Some will rot but most get a kind of hard shell that helps them keep. They would keep a long time under optimum conditions which most of us do not have. Cool and dry. They have a few fruits on a vine. As with any crop they do better some years than others. I always opt for planting too many. Extras go to the chickens.

 

[Detlor Poultry]

Spaghetti Squash belong to the Summer Squash species (Pepo) although it is apparently storable. We haven't raised Spaghetti squash in particular, but we've raised Amish Field Pie pumpkin (another Pepo), and it produced terribly compared to the Maxima species. Pepos are notoriously low-fruiters. Maximas seem to be the best. We had about 60 fruits from 3 plants last season, and only about 5 fruits from 1 plant of the Pepo species. I don't know about you, but the choice is a no brainer to me Spaghetti squash may produce better than Acorn and Field Pumpkin, and I think Sweet Potato does better, too. This season we are testing 3 of the 4 common species (Maxima, Pepo, Moschata) and we now know where we can get Mixta seeds to try next year. Hope this helps.

 

[desertlady]

thanks for the information ! my kids love spaghetti squash, so I thought I try planting them. I hope to produce prize winning veggies !! just kidding !!:watering

 

[catjac1975]

thanks for the information ! my kids love spaghetti squash, so I thought I try planting them. I hope to produce prize winning veggies !! just kidding !!:watering

If you've never tried Rumbo squash-it is prolific and delicious. It can take over a hugh garden so only plant a few. I have given many away and every one LOVES it.
It looks like a squashed pumpkin. It is the same consistency of spag. squash. It is orange sweet and delicious.

 

[desertlady]

Rumbo squash sounds good ! I will find the seeds and try them ! THanks !!