I am often asked when it’s the right time to harvest vegetables, so I thought I would write up posts on harvesting vegetables as I pull them from the garden.
Depending on the variety, most acorn squash is harvested within 75-100 days from planting the seed. It can be tricky to harvest because it turns deep green before it’s ready to harvest, and stays green once it’s past its prime. There are two ways to test for ripeness though:
- Look at the spot on the squash that sat on the ground. Is it orange? A dark orange color indicates it may be ready. On to step 2….
- Check the toughness of the skin with a fingernail. If the skin resists being poked, it’s ready! If the skin is still tender, continue to wait.
Acorn squash can stay in the field, on the vine, for a few weeks after it is ready to be harvested, just make sure you get it in before a hard frost. Frost damaged squash does not store long at all.
To harvest, use a knife, shears or pruners to remove the squash from the vine. Leave about an inch of vine on the squash. Stored in dry, cool (55 F or so) conditions, these can last 2-3 months! For longer storage, you may freeze or can. If you intend to store your squash, let it stay on the vine a little longer than usual to allow the outer skin to toughen up.
Did you know….? You can roast the seeds of your acorn squash just like pumpkin seeds! Yum!
Thank you! Didn’t know exactly how to tell if it was ready. I have stored for several months in our “dry” basement. Also really like it frozen or canned!