Hi Steve,

I'm certainly nothing close to an expert, but my experience with storage is that there are so many variables it is sometimes tough to pinpoint exactly why one fruit did not store as well as another. I have never heard of using a bedding underneath squash to store them, although I could see that being nice to be sure. I've heard they store best around 55 F and around 40% humidity. That being said, I store mine in my basement which is around 65 and very little or no humidity and they do well. Even the ones upstairs around 70 do fine. Never tried Casper. I've had great luck with butternuts though, as well as two varieties called Marina Di Chiogga and Jarrahdale both store very well for me and have fantastic flavor. I also know that conditions in the garden and if the fruit was damaged by pests at all will affect the storage life of individual squashes. In biodynamic gardening we have also discovered the cosmic rhythms influence storage quality which is something I recommend looking into if you are interested. Long story short though certain days are better for tending to and harvesting certain crops, so if your two Caspers were harvested at different times that could be playing a role too. What were your favorite squashes this year?

Matthew

Matthew, I didn't really "bed" the pumpkin in the peppers for storage purposes (or for anything other than a picture ;o).

I think you are right about multiple factors coming into play for successful storage. I'm still uncertain about what I can do with my squash before coming indoors for the winter. And, I have had little success through the years with keeping squash past the first of the year in my basement.

Upon the advice of David52 here on RMG, I tried Marina Di Chiogga a few years ago. It did pretty good. La Madera did well in maturing in my garden and tasted delicious. It had a large seed cavity, however. The plants crossed with others of that C. maxima type in my garden and I haven't located another source for seeds.

Casper has not proven to be much of a useful choice but this was a poor growing year for both squash and pumpkins. I'm not sure what the problem was. Sweet Meat did very nicely in 2016 but were about half the size, this season. Standby Burgess Buttercup were diminutive things, also. The Buttercups have been in my gardens for decades.

At least, I have winter squash for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I've also learned to begin eating them before the first frost. Yeah. When their stems begin to have that "corky" look to them. They taste just fine.

Steve

Hmm, yes this is just my second year having enough squash for extended storage but last year my Red Kuri's made it until mid-feb before going bad and since they are not the best storage types I'm hoping this year my butternuts will make it to spring time. I'm sure I could eat them up quicker though since they are so delicious. Next year I'm going to be growing even more, as well as trying to grow enough potatoes for a more extended storage. How do you store your potatoes Steve?

You know what do well in the storage conditions that I have for them, Matthew?

1. Onions, including shallots
2. Dahlias, in peat moss
3. Gladiolas, in wood shavings

I'd say that my tomatoes on the kitchen counter do pretty good ... The others are in the basement room and it looks like the squash might be better upstairs!

Potatoes are in that room in boxes. DW and I were down there yesterday removing sprouts. They are early varieties and harvested about the first of August. I can't expect too much past New Years Day from them but I should grow different varieties for later harvest if long-term storage was that important to me.

Steve

Shoot.

I wanted a dessert of apple upside-down, pumpkin cake.

The Casper pumpkin was there in the utility room, squash down the steep basement stairs. I'm not much good at "scientific" experiments as I get older ...

Steve

What cookies best represent each state according to
Nestlé? LINK

Well, I like both!

Apple cinnamon

Oatmeal chocolate chip

I used to grow oats ... harvested both the hay and grain. Have picked apples off a tree ... Hey! Pumpkin Spice is IT for Oregon. I am gonna have to go up and down those basement stairs, yet!

Steve

Two pumpkin pies in the freezer ..

. and, one in the kitchen.

Now, I need to make it back down those stairs to turn off the basement light, I left on ...

Steve