![]() ![]() ![]() Winter squash can be stored for several months. Squash is best when cut, not pulled, from the vine. A light frost will not damage fruits of winter squash. Harvest winter squash when they are full sized, the skin is hard, and the bottom of the fruit is lightened in color. Neem oil, sulfur, and other fungicides may be used. Check the plants daily and if spots or mold appear, treat the plant with an approved fungicide. Before using a pesticide, read the label and always follow cautions, warnings and directions.ĭiseases: Squash can get many diseases, especially when harvesting begins. Pyrethrin and rotenone can control for the cucumber beetle. Sevin® and Thiodan® can control for squash bugs. Larvae of the Squash vine borer are usually found inside the stem and cannot be controlled once they are inside the stem. Sulfur also has fungicidal properties and helps in controlling many diseases. Bt-based insecticides and sulfur are organic options that can be used for prevention. Insecticides: Insecticides may be used to protect plants. When blooms first appear, you may optionally apply 2 tablespoons of fertilizer around each hill. Scatter the fertilizer evenly over a 2 foot by 2 foot area. For small gardens, use 2-3 tablespoons of fertilizer for each hill. Work into the soil and leave the surface smooth. When plowing or hoeing do not dig deeper than 1 inch to prevent from cutting the feeder rooters which may slow the plant's growth.įertilizing: You may optionally add scatter 2-3 pounds of a complete fertilizer for each 100 square feet of garden area. Weeding: Keep squash plants as weed-free as possible. Sandy soils need to be watered more often than heavy clay soils. If the weather is really dry, squash plants should be watered at least once a week. Watering: Water the plants enough to keep them from wilting. *Tip: Plant squash with beans and corn for companion planting. After the seeds come up and plants are 3-4 inches tall, thin to 3 squash plants per hill. Cover thinly with soil and water after planting. To plant, make 1 inch deep holes spaced 4 feet apart in raised beds down the rows, then plant 5-6 seeds in each hole. For a good fall crop, plant early so squash will mature before the first killing frost. Since squash does not grow well in cool weather, plant in the spring after all danger of frost has passed and the soil begins to warm. This formation of ridges will help with drainage. For squash, make rows of soil beds 4-6 inches high and at least 3 feet apart. Till to mix this organic material into the top 8-10 inches of soil. You may add fertilizer (see "Fertilizing" below) or 2-3 inches of organic material such as compost, leaves, or rotted hay over the planting area at this point. Spade the soil 8-12 inches deep and turn each shovel of soil over completely to cover the plant materials with soil. Leave small weeds and dead grass, they will enrich the soil when turned under. To prepare soil, remove weeds, large rocks, and litter from the planting area. Squash grows best in sandy, fertile soils with a pH between 6.0 and 6.5. Store in a cool and dry location such as the refrigerator or basement to best preserve germination rates. **Seeds are freshly packed for the growing season of the year listed. *Fungicide-treated seeds protect the seedlings from diseases until they are up and growing. Plant Name: Winter Squash, Burgess Buttercup Beans provided natural fertilizer for all.Īlso Known As: Japanese Pumpkin, Green Pumpkin, Kabocha Squash served as a ground cover to prevent weeds from growing. Corn served as a structure for the vining beans to grow up. Each plant had its role in this companion planting tradition. The other two plants in the Three Sisters are beans and corn. ![]() Squash is one of the plants grown in the traditional Native American vegetable growing technique called the Three Sisters. It is also rich in vitamins A and C, B vitamins, carotenoids, and minerals. Delicious roasted, in soups, pies, stews, and curries. Buttercup looks very similar to Kabocha squash, its peak season also starts in early fall and lasts through the winter. Buttercup Squash is a rich emerald green 6-8 inch-wide winter squash that has rich, orange flesh that is slightly sweeter than butternut squash and has a creamy texture. ![]()
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