When to Pick Spaghetti Squash for the Perfect Harvest
If you grow vegetables you're probably familiar with summer and winter squashes. Zucchini and crookneck, butternut and pumpkin are all long-time favorites and popular squashes for the home garden. Spaghetti squash falls into the category of winter variety, but it's unique in the world of squashes because it can be turned into noodle-like strings when cooked.
To be able to do this though, you have to harvest your spaghetti squash at the right time. Here's what to know about when to harvest spaghetti squash, and what to do if you've picked it a little too early.
How to Know When to Pick Spaghetti Squash
You know a spaghetti squash is ready to be harvested because it's a uniform dark yellow with a hard rind.
Spaghetti squash are oval shaped, kind of like a watermelon, and average 3 to 4 pounds but can weigh as much as 8 pounds. Young squash are light green or white with a light green tinge which turns to a uniform dark golden yellow when the squash is ready to be harvested. The rind should be hard. If you can leave a mark on the outer skin of the squash with your fingernail, it's not quite ready to pick. Light colored or green spots also are an indication to wait a little longer to harvest.
Spaghetti squash has a long growing season of 90 to 110 days. The days to harvest information on seed packets is the number of days it takes the squash to mature after seeds are planted. For gardeners in the northern part of the US this means harvesting usually starts in September.
How to Harvest Spaghetti Squash
Spaghetti squash should be harvested before hard frost. Like other winter squashes it is cured for several weeks before storing. For optimum results follow these steps:
Look for squash with stems that have turned from green and supple to brown and hard.
Check the color of the squash which is uniformly a deep golden yellow when fully ripe.
Press a fingernail against the rind. If this does not leave an indentation in the skin, the squash is ready to pick.
Use a sharp pruner to cut the stem leaving 3 to 4 inches attached to the squash.
Handle the squash by supporting the body and avoid picking it up by the stem. A broken stem reduces the shelf life of this vegetable.
Place the squash in a warm, dry, well-ventilated location for one to two weeks to cure. Ideal temperatures for curing are 80 to 85 degrees F.
When properly harvested and cured spaghetti squash can be stored for up to two months in a cool, dry location like a pantry. Ideal storage temperature ranges from 55 to 60 degrees F.
Will Spaghetti Squash Ripen Off the Vine?
Hard frost reduces the storage life of winter squashes like spaghetti squash. A squash that freezes while still on the vine develops a mushy rind and likely will have to be discarded. The good news is that if early frost requires you to harvest before your spaghetti squash is fully ripe, it will continue to mature off the vine for several weeks after picking.
How to Ripen Spaghetti Squash After Picking
The more mature the spaghetti squash is when picked the better chance you have of getting it to fully ripen off the vine. If a hard freeze forces you to harvest early, bring the squash inside. Wash and dry it then place it in a sunny window with the unripe portion exposed to the sun. You may want to turn the squash every few days to encourage even ripening. It should mature to a fully deep golden color in two to three weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it possible to pick spaghetti squash too early?
It's possible and quite common to pick spaghetti squash too early, especially for gardeners growing it for the first time. Check the following three characteristics to help determine if the squash is ready. One, the stem has turned brown and dry. Two, the skin is a deep, golden yellow. Three, scratching or pressing with a fingernail does not leave a mark on the rind.
Should you pick spaghetti squash before it turns yellow?
It's best to wait to pick a spaghetti squash until the entire rind has turned a deep, golden yellow free of light colored or green spots and patches. If frosts or a hard freeze force an early harvest, partially ripened squash will continue to mature if placed in a sunny window.
