Use these gardening instructions to learn how to grow acorn squash in your garden this summer.
How to Grow Acorn Squash
Acorn squash is a fall favorite and for good reason. It is easy to grow and even easier to harvest. You can bake it and broil it for all kinds of meals from a splendid side dish to a delectable soup. Grow your own acorn squash in your garden this year with these tips on how to do so from seed to harvest time.
How to Grow Acorn Squash from Seed
If you live in a colder region, it makes sense to start your seeds indoors. To do so, you will need a seed starting tray, a warm and sunny spot to germinate them and something to cover them. You should place your seeds pointy side down into each section of your tray and water. Make sure to watch the moisture level daily to make sure your soil doesn’t get too dry.
For more in-depth information on starting seeds for acorn squash indoors, check out this post.
How to Transplant Acorn Squash Seedlings
While it is not ideal to transplant any seedling and better to direct sow, sometimes if you live in a region where the growing season isn’t very long you will need to start your seedlings indoors. To transplant your acorn squash, you will want to prepare the soil first by tilling and fertilizing it. Acorn squash, like all squash prefer little mounds to grow in, too so make sure to prepare these about 12 inches from each other. For more information on how to transplant acorn squash seedlings, check out this post.
How to Avoid Pests with Acorn Squash
The pest you will deal with will most likely be the appropriately named squash bug. These bugs are very hard to manage so getting ahead of them and preventing them is your best bet. They can really cause problems because they will turn your leaves brown and cause them to wilt. The best prevention of an infestation is to get rid of them when they are eggs. Look for them and scrape them off your leaves with a dull butter knife. Dispose of them in soapy water.
To prevent these, you can grow tansies near them as a companion as squash bugs tend to dislike them.
For more information on squash bugs and other bugs you may encounter with your acorn squash, check out this post from The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
https://www.almanac.com/pest/squash-bugs
How to Harvest Acorn Squash
Unlike many plant’s fruit, acorn squash is ready to pick when it is changing from yellow to green. The skin will become much harder, too. To harvest these beauties, you will want to get them before frost as it can ruin them. Simply cut them from the vine with a sharp knife and store them in a cool, dry space for several weeks, to a couple of months if the area is cool enough. They do not need to be stored in the fridge, but should be stored similar to potatoes.
[…] How to Grow Acorn Squash […]