Winter squash and pumpkins are among the few foods you can harvest in July or August and eat in January. Before the advent of modern refrigerators, squash and pumpkins were an important way for farmers to store fresh, vitamin-rich food for the winter. Unlike most vegetables, which must be canned, dried, or frozen, properly storing winter squash and pumpkin is a simple, low-cost process. How long they last depends on the variety and storage conditions you give them.
Time to Save Squash
While we love the taste of all the winter squash and pumpkin varieties we offer, not all are created equal in terms of keeping power.
Generally, acorn squash and delicata can last 2 months, butternuts 2 to 3 months, hubbarbs 5 to 6 months, and some specialty varieties. 9 months to a a year.
These numbers can vary greatly, depending on the specific variety and proper treatment and maintenance. Just consider these as general guidelines. I’ve had butternuts for 6 months, but that doesn’t mean they always do.
Fortunately, for many squashes, storage improves their flavor. In general, we advise people to get vegetables from the garden to their plate as soon as possible to get the best flavor. Tender vegetables such as sweet corn, broccoli, and peas begin to convert sugar to starch as soon as they are harvested.
The opposite is true for squashes, especially those used for long storage like Hubbards. These storage squashes convert starch to sugar once harvested and have the best flavor when allowed to cure and store for at least a few weeks.
Our Favorite Squashes for Long-Term Storage
If the squash is grown it doesn’t end well you were optimistic, you might want to add a great goalkeeper to the squad next year.
- Seminole Pumpkin – 1 year
- Tahitian Melon Winter Squash – 9+ months
- Tan Cheese Pumpkin – 1 year
- South Anna Butternut Winter Squash – 6+ months
Garden Planning for Winter Squash and Pumpkin Storage
Unfortunately, many gardeners’ favorite varieties, such as Winter Luxury Pumpkin or Candystick Dessert Delicata Winter Squash, do not last as long as those mentioned above.
If you’re a winter squash enthusiast, one of my favorite ways to grow squash is to choose two or three varieties that have short, medium and long term storage capabilities. Rather than growing one large patchplant a few of them. This it will give you plenty of squash for hearty stews, curries, and baked goods.
My Squash Won’t Last Very Long, What Should I Do?
If you have a lot of squash or pumpkin that you don’t think you can use in time, I recommend freezing it. You can’t freeze squash raw; you need to cook it first.
My favorite method is to slice and bake winter squash and pumpkins, then scoop out the tender, cooked flesh into freezer-safe containers. it’s cooland snow. Alternatively, you can peel the squash or pumpkin and boil it until soft.
If you don’t have enough refrigerator space, pressure-grinding pumpkins and winter squash are another option. Remember you need a pressure canner; It is a low acid food that is not safe to add to the water bath.
Drying winter squash and pumpkins also works, especially if you already own a dehydrator. Dried winter squash and pumpkins are great for quick soups and camping trips.
There are many great ways to use winter squash and pumpkins. Here are a few of my favorite recipes to use and store:
Quick storage tips
Earlier in the blog, we talked about exactly how to properly harvest, cure, and store squash and pumpkins for the winter. In this post, I will focus on a few key points:
- If possible, allow winter squash and pumpkins to fully ripen on the vine before harvesting (the stem should begin to form brown lines of wood near the fruit). This improves the ability to save.
- Harvest winter squash and pumpkins before your first frost.
- Avoid storing squash near apples, pears, and tomatoes that remove ethylene (ripening hormone).
- The ideal storage conditions for winter squash and pumpkins are between 50 and 60°F, and humidity is 50 to 70%.
Winter squash and pumpkins are among the best crops to store. choosing a on the right types and storage in the right way it can allow you to enjoy squash throughout complete a year!
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