When to Plant Cushaw Squash Seeds
Different varieties of squashes take different amounts of time to grow, with winter squash taking the longest, about 3-4 months until maturity. Squash will do best direct seeded in your garden beds, but if your season is short you can start inside 3-5 weeks before your last frost date. Find out when your 100% certain last frost date is in your grow zone to determine when you should direct seed or transplant. Squashes will not thrive in cool soil, so planting outside early offers little to no advantage.
How to Plant Cushaw Squash Seeds
Choose a spot in your garden that has full-sun and well-drained soil worked with organic matter. Plant both summer and winter squash in spring once the soil temperature is above 60° at a depth of 1”. Make sure the last frost has passed. Even if the soil temperature is warm enough, a frost could damage your squash seeds. If you plant before the soil is warm enough, your squash seeds probably won’t germinate. If you start your plants indoors, be sure to harden the seedlings so they won’t shock as much when you move them outside. To harden seedlings, you slowly expose them to outdoor conditions over the week or two before you plant them outside. Move them outdoors for a short period of time each day, beginning with 1 to 2 hours and then increasing in 1-hour increments. Make sure to shield them from direct sunlight and wind.
How to Grow Cushaw Squash
Winter squashes are almost all vining-type and will require more space, about 4’ by 4’ square pattern. The larger your expected mature fruits are, the more space you should give the plants. Mulch around your plants to help control weeds and maintain soil moisture. Keep your seeds watered at least once a day until they germinate, which should happen in 6-12 days for most cultivars. Aim to provide the usual 1” of water or rain a week for your vegetable garden.
When to Harvest and How to Cure Cushaw Squash
For winter squash, you want to harvest once the fruit has turned a solid color and the rind is hard. Make sure you harvest before a hard freeze, since a hard freeze will ruin the vine and destroy the fruit. When harvesting, leave at least 2” of stem, more if possible. Field-cure your winter squash for a week in dry, sunny weather. If the weather is cold or rainy, cure your winter squash indoors in a well-ventilated space. Curing winter squash dries and toughens the skin, allowing for longer storage.
How to Store Cushaw Squash
Store winter squash in a dry location that is around 55°. Do not pile winter squash on top of one another, and remove any squash that show signs of damage. Squash varieties like acorn squash and striped delicata squash should be eaten a few weeks after harvest. Butternut squash should be eaten after a few months of storage. Round squashes like Blue Hubbard squash can be stored until March or April. For longer storage, cook, mash, and freeze your winter squash.
