How do you know when to pick acorn squash?

Asked by: Rusty Shook

Acorn squash is typically ripe 50–60 days after the squash is first visible on the vine. You can also tell an acorn squash is ripe if the underside of the squash is dark orange in color. The skin of a ripe squash will slightly resist being punctured by your fingernail while unripe squash will have fragile skin.

Do acorn squash ripen after they are picked?

It gets its name from the acorn-shaped fruits that form on the vines. Acorns are one of the smallest of the winter squash, making them just right for baking and stuffing. Although acorn squash will not ripen after it is picked, with proper handling, they will last three to five months after harvesting.

How do you pick acorn squash?

Here’s what to look for! A ripe Acorn Squash is heavy for its size and has smooth, dull skin, and no soft spots. A good mix between green and orange coloring is desired. Avoid an Acorn Squash that has shiny skin, which indicates it was picked before full maturity, unless the producer has applied wax.

When should I pick my butternut squash and acorns?

Reach maturity in about 85 days so you would want to count the amount of days and when you planted the seed or the plant.

What color should squash be when picked?

golden yellow

When the squash has turned a golden yellow or a dark yellowish color, it is usually ready to be picked. The skin of the squash will be very thick and hard. If you use your fingernail to poke the squash, you will know it’s ripe if your nail doesn’t penetrate the squash.

Can you eat unripe acorn squash?

‘Jersey Golden Acorn’ is an acorn squash variety that produces fruit that can be picked unripe without losing flavor. The flesh of this variety is sweet when the fruit is golfball-sized, and the skin is soft. You can eat unripe ‘Jersey Golden Acorn’ fruit raw or cooked.

How big do acorn squash plants get?

The acorn squash plant is a large vine that can spread out 3 to 12 feet, and it requires considerable garden space. Squash can grow as a vine or a bush, and you typically plant bushy squash on hills for better drainage.

Why is my acorn squash turning yellow?

The problem may be improper storage. Acorn-type squashes should be stored at a temperature of 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Some acorn-type squashes will turn yellow when stored at temperatures above 55 degrees Fahrenheit. High storage temperatures may also cause the flesh to become stringy.

How do you store acorn squash?

Acorn Squash Storage



Winter squash will last up to a month in a cool (50 to 55 F) dark cellar or storage area, but only about two weeks in the refrigerator. Ideally, only cut or cooked acorn squash should be refrigerated; they will suffer chill damage at temperatures below 50 F.

What color is a ripe acorn squash?

dark green

Ripened acorn squash turns dark green in color. The portion that has been in contact with the ground will go from yellow to orange. In addition to color, the rind, or skin, of acorn squash will become hard. Another way to tell ripeness is to look at the plant’s stem.

Why is my squash prickly?

The large leaves on zucchini or summer squash plants are often prickly and conceal the bounty of fruit growing beneath them. When harvesting, select a dry sunny day, because working in the wet plants promotes disease.

Can squash ripen off the vine?

If a hard frost is forecasted, it is probably a good idea to harvest your pumpkins and squash. Luckily, if you have to pick these before they have fully changed color, they will continue to ripen off the vine.

Can you pick squash early?

The rule for harvesting squash is pick summer squash and zucchini early and often, while they’re small, but leave winter squash on the vine till the vines die back in fall. Harvest summer squash early and often. Harvest summer squash while small, before their skins harden and their cores get pithy and full of seeds.

Can you eat under ripe squash?

But what to do with squash that is not ripe? You can continue to ripen unripe squash by bringing them inside, washing them off and putting them in a sunny spot. You watch them carefully, turning them occasionally until they reach the proper color for eating.