Anyone here grown winter squashes?

[Dover]

I haven't, but would like to get some going this year and wonder what I should expect as far as space needed, best type of setup (let them crawl along the ground, train them up on trellis,) and so on. I'd like to grow acorn squash, red kuri, and butternut. Also need to learn about storage. I live in Texas so heat will obviously be a factor. Any experienced advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Warpy]

1. Winter squashes are heavy buggers

and I've always let them roam along the ground, often interplanted with corn or beans.

[Blue_In_AK]

2. They take up a LOT of room.

You're lucky to live in a state where they'll probably grow, though. Up here our summer isn't long enough for them to set fruit, without the use of a greenhouse or extra-human coddling, which I'm not up for. I've tried to grow pumpkins before and all I get is a very long and beautiful vine with a couple of two-inch little green fruits.

[wryter2000]

3. I have a grown few

Some types are just bushes and you don't need to worry about staking or trellises. Dumpling types (like Sweet Dumpling) don't. I believe acorn squashes don't either. They're fairly compact plants. IIRC each plant produces a couple of squashes.

Can't help you with heat issues. I live in Oakland, CA

[wryter2000]

4. Ask the gardening group, too

We have a gardening group. As a member, you can post in there.

[izquierdista]

5. Not much difference

Between summer and winter varieties. Any summer variety that you leave on too long will develop a tough rind and seeds, just like the winter varieties. On the other hand, I have picked acorn and butternut squash a week after they bloom and eaten them as you would summer squash. For winter squash, I like to leave them to spread on the ground and put some mulch under them so that they don't develop a tough spot where they sit on the dirt. Be adventurous, they are pretty easy to grow, so it's hard to make a mess of things.

[kestrel91316]

6. I have grown butternut squash with GREAT success here in

the San Fernando Valley (the HOT HOT HOT part of Los Angeles). It's getting a bit late in the year to be planting them in this zone.

They keep real well once harvested and cured. Oh, and secret cooking tip: the very best "pumpkin" pie is actually butternut squash pie. And it makes great "pumpkin" butter, too. VERY nice and tasty and versatile vegetable to grow.

I did them a couple of years on trellises - it's nice if you have space limitations, a la Square Foot Gardening. You just have to be careful none of the baby squash develop in any of the holes in the trellising or they will grow and then you can't get them out. Been there, done that.

[Dover]

7. Okay, I'll just go for it and let sprawl along the ground this first time.

I have a couple of questions left: Can I use the seed from the acorn squash I just ate? I already stuck them in dirt and they've sprouted. Just don't know if they will be of the same quality as seed I'd buy.

And just any advice on soil mixture would be good. Someone told me to be sure to mix alot of peat moss in a good quality slow release soil. Anything additional, either initially or as they grow?

Thank you all for the advice!!! :hi:

[uppityperson]

8. Maybe but it depends. If they came from a hybrid, or near another squash,

You don't know what you will get because squash cross pollinate easily. If you grow only 1 kind, and there are no other types grown within a ways of yours, and if your was NOT a hybrid to start with, you will get the same type next year.

As for soil mix, I added mt.poop (mixture sand/chicken poop from chicken run), compost, horse manure to my clayey soil and so far things grow. I have no idea beyond that, sorry.

[kestrel91316]

12. Unless it's an open pollinated variety AND grown far from other plants in

the cucurbit family, it won't breed true. Best to spend a couple bucks and get good seed. Then you MIGHT be able to save your own seed and do ok.

[hollowdweller]

9. Hubbards are really cool ones.

We have a lot of trouble w/vine borers though.

[back_to_the_woods]

10. Saving space with Butternut squash - in north Texas

Hi, Last year, I had the pleasant surprise of a volunteer butternut squash vine in my garden. The seed had survived in material that I had hoped to turn to compost, but failed.

Fortunately, it started itself close to the garden fence, so, when I noticed that a rabbit had been snacking on one, I trained the vine up the fence. leaving the damaged squash on the ground for the bunny to finish.

To tie the vine to the fence, I tore an old t-shirt into strips. The stretchiness makes the cloth better than twine because it doesn't strangle the plants the way twine does, plus it's a great way to recycle old clothes.

As the squashes gained weight, I was afraid that the weight of the squash would pull down on the vine stalks and damage them. So, I made mini hammocks for them, also using old t-shirt cloth, and old stockings. It worked great in most cases. On one, I didn't get it positioned right, and the growth of the squash was stunted.

The squash was wonderful, but I'm a little sad, because I forgot to save seeds from the harvest.

[NMDemDist2]

11. welcome to DU and our little rural forum

:hi:

sounds like you'll be a great addition :hi:

we also have a gardening forum that you may enjoy if you haven't visited over there yet....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=246

[bvar22]

13. Welcome to DU!

Did you move "back_to_the_woods"?

In 2006, we moved from Minneapolis to rural Arkansas.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=246x5729

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=246x7979