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Cucurbits

Squash, Winter growing guide

Long-season squash with hard skin and sweet, dense flesh. Stores for months. The butternut type is most popular. Needs lots of space.

Photo reference

Use this real-world photo as the main plant reference, then compare it with the botanical drawings below for leaf, flower and harvest details.

Squash, Winter real-world photo reference (Cucurbita maxima/moschata)
Wikimedia Commons · Californiacondor · CC BY-SA 3.0
7-14 daysGermination
80-110 daysHarvest
120 cmSpacing
2 cmSow depth
FullSun
TenderFrost
2.5 cm/weekWater
6-7pH

Planting calendar by climate

Use these windows as a public guide. Plotera can personalise tasks around your saved garden, location and planting dates.

ClimateSowTransplant / PlantHarvest
TropicalJan - DecJan - DecJan - Dec
SubtropicalAug - NovAug - NovNov - Mar
MediterraneanSep - NovSep - NovDec - Mar
TemperateSep - OctOct - NovJan - Apr
CoolOctNov - DecFeb - Apr
AridAug - OctAug - OctNov - Feb

Botanical reference

Compare the whole plant first, then check the leaf, flower and harvest detail to identify what Squash, Winter should look like as it grows.

Squash, Winter whole plant

Whole plant

Overall shape, height, branching and growth habit.

Squash, Winter leaf detail

Leaf detail

Leaf shape, edges, colour and vein pattern.

Squash, Winter flower detail

Flower detail

Flower colour, structure and where blooms appear.

Squash, Winter harvest / detail

Harvest / detail

Fruit, root, seed, pod or the strongest identifying feature.

Cooking and eating ideas

A quick garden-to-table guide for using Squash, Winter after harvest.

Raw / fresh

Use cucumbers and tender young fruit raw in salads, pickles, snacks, and cold dishes where suitable.

Cooked

Grill, roast, saute, stuff, bake into fritters, simmer into curries, or cook mature squash and pumpkin.

Store / preserve

Pickle cucumbers, freeze cooked squash, cure storage pumpkins, or make relish and chutney.

Try: Pickles, Grilled slices, Pumpkin soup, Zucchini fritters.

Good companions

Corn, Beans, Nasturtium

Avoid near

Potato

Growing note

Cure harvested squash in warm sun for 10 days to harden skin for storage.

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