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Questions about growing winter (acorn) squash in the spring

15 years ago

Hi all :)

I'm new to growing squash and need your help with my acorn squash.

I put a couple of store-bought seedlings in the ground 2-3 weeks ago and was surprised to see how early they started flowering. I left the flowers on the plant and don't know if I should have removed them... the plants are barely covering a square foot each.

I'm not looking for big acorn squash, but I am interested in quantity. I'd also like to harvest them early like summer squash if it's possible to do so (and still expect good flavors/sugars).

Did I put them out too early? Should I be removing flowers until the plants get a little bigger? Will winter squash produce twice in hotter climates (assuming July-August will be too hot for fruit set)? Can I expect small-but-tasty fruit if I harvest them early?

Thanks for your help :)

Comments (4)

  • 15 years ago

    Squash in general, don't like transplanting. Your seedlings could hvae been stunted. They do much better direct seeded. That said Acorn squash grow as well as summer squash in the spring, and yes they can be used immature as zucchini substitutes. In the east it is VERY difficult to keep a squash plant alive for such an extended period. SVB plus lots of other diseases and pests. Acorns are early maturing.
    {{gwi:15389}}

  • 15 years ago

    Thanks, Farmerdill. Your post helps put me at ease.

    I planted the seedlings carefully while they just barely had their first true leaf each and still had big cotyledons (which makes them a rip-off, I know), and they're definitely growing rapidly. I wouldn't call them stunted, but I see how transplant stress probably made them flower early. I'll definitely just direct seed the next time around.

    Also, although the weather here has mostly been very agreeable, we already had 100 F weather about a week and a half back. So, I guess I shouldn't be surprised to have flowers; it's just very strange seeing such huge flowers on such tiny plants.

    I'm from Florida and know what you mean about diseases. Going by how my veggies did this last year here in Phoenix, I won't have to worry much about pests.

    If I harvest the immature acorn squash, will they still taste sweet? Also, would it be too taxing on my small plants to start producing so early? How many acorns should I allow to mature on the plants at a time?

    Thanks :)

  • 15 years ago

    Acorns are not particularly sweet at any stage. Immature they taste fairly close to a zucchini. Bush versions six to eight per plant per plant under ideal conditions. Vining types yield slightly more per plant. Generally the plant will abort fruit until it is capable of maturing one. Like most plants they will keep trying to set fruit when immature fruits are removed and start to shut down when fruit are allowed to ripen.

  • 15 years ago

    Thanks :) I guess I'll leave the little fruit on the plants for now and let the plants decide what to do with them. I didn't even consider the possibility of having any acorn squash soon, so if these abort it's no loss to me.

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