Tuesday, September 7, 2010

How Long For Spaghetti Squash To Mature







Spaghetti squash does not mature until early fall.


Spaghetti squash is a type of winter squash. It takes longer to mature than zucchini and other types of summer squash. Depending on the variety, spaghetti squash take 73 to 110 days to mature from the time the gardener or farmer sows the seed.


Growth and Maturity


Like acorn, butternut and other kinds of winter squash, spaghetti squash grow fastest during the heat of summer but generally are not ready for picking until September or October. However, they are vulnerable to freezing and should be picked before the first frost.


Harvest


Fruits are ready for picking when the skin has hardened and cannot be pierced with a thumbnail. About two inches of stem should be left attached to the fruit; squash without stems will rot.


Varieties








Cornell University's Department of Horticulture provides information about four varieties of summer squash that home gardeners commonly grow: Hasta La Pasta, Hi-Beta Gold, Pasta and Vegetable Spaghetti. The days to maturity for each variety are 73, 75, 90 and 88 to 110, respectively.

Tags: ready picking, spaghetti squash, summer squash, winter squash