Winter squash and pumpkins are among the many few meals you may harvest in July or August and eat in January. Earlier than the arrival of contemporary refrigeration, these squashes and pumpkins have been a vital approach that growers might put contemporary, vitamin-rich meals up for winter. In contrast to most greens, which should be canned, dried, or frozen, correctly storing winter squash and pumpkin is a reasonably easy, low-effort course of. Precisely how lengthy they final is dependent upon the variability and storage situations you present.
Squash Storage Interval
Whereas we love the flavour of all the winter squash and pumpkin varieties that we provide, not all of them are equal when it comes to their storage potential.
Usually talking, acorn squash and delicata can last as long as 2 months, butternuts 2-to-3 months, hubbarbs 5 to six months, and a few specialty cultivars 9 months to a yr.
These numbers could range broadly, relying on the particular selection and correct curing and storage. Simply have a look at these as common pointers. I’ve had butternuts retailer for six months, however that doesn’t imply they at all times do.
Fortunately, for a lot of squashes, storage truly improves their taste. Sometimes, we advise individuals to get greens from the backyard to their plate as rapidly as attainable for the very best taste. Tender greens like candy corn, broccoli, and peas start changing sugars to starches as quickly as you harvest them.
The other is true with squashes, notably these used for longer storage like Hubbards. These storage squashes convert starches to sugars as soon as harvested and have the very best taste after they’ve been allowed to remedy and retailer for a minimum of a few weeks.
Our Favourite Squashes for Longterm Storage
If the squash you grew doesn’t maintain in addition to you had hoped, chances are you’ll need to add a superb keeper to the plot subsequent yr.
- Seminole Pumpkin – 1 yr
- Tahitian Melon Winter Squash – 9+ months
- Tan Cheese Pumpkin – 1 yr
- South Anna Butternut Winter Squash – 6+ months
Backyard Planning for Winter Squash and Pumpkin Storage
Sadly, many gardeners’ favourite varieties, like Winter Luxurious Pumpkin or Candystick Dessert Delicata Winter Squash, don’t maintain in addition to these talked about above.
For those who’re a fan of winter squash, considered one of my favourite methods to plant squash is to select two or three cultivars with short-, medium-, and long-term storage potential. Fairly than rising an enormous patch of 1, plant a number of of every. This provides you with loads of squash for hearty stews, curries, and baked items over an extended interval.
My Squash Received’t Final A lot Longer, What Do I Do?
You probably have a whole lot of squash or pumpkin that you just don’t suppose you should utilize up in time, I like to recommend freezing it. You may’t freeze squash uncooked; you might want to cook dinner it first.
My favourite methodology is to halve and bake winter squash and pumpkins, then scoop the comfortable, cooked flesh into freezer-proof containers, cool, and freeze. Alternatively, you may peel the squash or pumpkin and boil it till tender.
For those who don’t have sufficient freezer house, strain canning pumpkins and winter squash is an alternative choice. Remember that you want a strain canner; it’s a low-acid meals that’s unsafe for water tub canning.
Drying winter squash and pumpkins additionally works, particularly for those who already personal a dehydrator. Dried winter squash and pumpkins are fantastic for fast soups and tenting journeys.
There are many nice methods to make use of winter squash and pumpkins. Listed here are a number of of my favourite recipes for utilizing them up and preserving them:
Storage Fast Ideas
Beforehand on the weblog, we’ve coated precisely the best way to correctly harvest, remedy, and retailer winter squash and pumpkins. For this publish, I’ll deal with a number of key factors:
- If attainable, permit winter squash and pumpkins to completely ripen on the vine earlier than harvest (the stem ought to begin creating wood-brown stripes close to the fruit). This improves storage potential.
- Harvest winter squash and pumpkins earlier than your first frost.
- Keep away from storing squash close to apples, pears, and tomatoes that postpone ethylene (the ripening hormone).
- Perfect storage situations for winter squash and pumpkins are between 50 and 60°F, and humidity is 50 to 70%.
Winter squash and pumpkins are among the many greatest storage crops. Selecting the proper varieties and storing them correctly can will let you take pleasure in squash all through the total yr!