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| Butternut squash fully mature and ready to harvest |
Q. When do you harvest
butternut squash?
butternut squash?
A. Butternut squash, a
winter squash, should be fully mature before it is harvested. Knowing when to
harvest comes from experience.
winter squash, should be fully mature before it is harvested. Knowing when to
harvest comes from experience.
Look at the color of the squash fruit and the condition of
the vine. Squash fruit should be tan, brown or orange brown depending on the
variety and the vine at the point of connection to the fruit should look like
it’s dying.
the vine. Squash fruit should be tan, brown or orange brown depending on the
variety and the vine at the point of connection to the fruit should look like
it’s dying.
In early winter, another way is to let the vine die from
a light freeze and cut the vine from the squash fruit. A common method talked
about is to press a thumbnail into the “skin”. When mature, the skin should be
difficult to scratch or puncture. This is a rather subjective method and I
don’t like it much.
a light freeze and cut the vine from the squash fruit. A common method talked
about is to press a thumbnail into the “skin”. When mature, the skin should be
difficult to scratch or puncture. This is a rather subjective method and I
don’t like it much.
I don’t particularly like this method because it can
puncture the outer skin. This puncture or wound is a possible entry point for
rotting microorganisms if squash fruits are stored for any length of time. All
fruits and vegetables should be handled carefully without creating damage.
puncture the outer skin. This puncture or wound is a possible entry point for
rotting microorganisms if squash fruits are stored for any length of time. All
fruits and vegetables should be handled carefully without creating damage.
Don’t pull squash fruits from the vine because the wound
left when the vine separates from the fruit damages the outer skin and leaves
an open wound, unless you’re going to cook or process it right away.
left when the vine separates from the fruit damages the outer skin and leaves
an open wound, unless you’re going to cook or process it right away.
Cut the vine from the squash fruit, leaving
about ½ inch of vine attached. They store better at garage temperatures than
house temperatures.