- The Winter Squash Eating Experience | Basic Differences in Eating Quality Between 7 Types
- Video: 'Night Shift' Acorn Squash | Bred by Johnny's
- Kabocha Winter Squash | Key Growing Information
- Grower Profile: Louie's Pumpkin Patch - Skövde, Sweden | Johnny's Selected Seeds 40th Anniversary
- Winter Squash | Key Growing Information
- Curing & Storage Chart for Different Kinds of Winter Squash
- Johnny's-Bred Kabocha Winter Squash Timeline | Infographic
- Acorn Winter Squash | Key Growing Information
- Butternut Winter Squash | Key Growing Information
- Winter Squash Varieties | Comparison Chart (PDF)
- How to Choose Fall Cucurbits | Edible, Ornamental & Dual-Purpose Pumpkins, Squash & Gourds
- Eating Quality in Winter Squashes | Why Some Varieties Just Taste Better Than Others
- Video: 'Marmalade' Kabocha Squash | Bred by Johnny's
- Video: Miso-Glazed Kabocha Squash Recipe
- Delicata & Sweet Dumpling Winter Squash | Key Growing Information
- Cucumber Beetle Lure Instructions | Tech Sheet (PDF)
- Winter Squash Production | Tech Sheet (PDF)
- Buttercup Winter Squash | Key Growing Information
- Classic Storage Crops | Post-Harvest Handling & Storage Guidelines
- Hubbard Winter Squash | Key Growing Information
- Spaghetti Winter Squash | Key Growing Information
Winter Squash Curing & Storage
How Long to Cure & How Long to Store Winter Squash for Peak Flavor & Eating Quality
Different kinds of winter squash vary as to how long they take to cure after harvesting, how long before they achieve peak eating quality, and how long before that quality declines.
Whether you grow winter squash for your own consumption or to sell at markets, at the farmstand, or to place in your CSA boxes, you will want to know when your squash and edible pumpkins are at their best.
A selection of mini edible ornamentals
For those eager to enjoy the fall squash harvest, a general rule of thumb is to consume the spaghetti and smallest squashes first.
Harvest Indicators
Ensuring good eating quality in your squash starts with harvesting at the right time. Many winter squash fruits can appear to be mature before they are actually ready to harvest. For the best-quality squash, wait to harvest all types until they are mature—at least 50–55 days after the fruit has set, but be sure to harvest before your first fall frost.
- Spaghetti: harvest when fruits have developed a deep yellow color.
- Acorn: harvest when fruits have a dark-orange “ground spot.”
- Delicata & Dumpling: harvest when fruits have a dark-orange “ground spot.”
- Hubbard, Kabocha, and Buttercup: dry, corky stems are a good indication of fruit maturity.
- Butternut: harvest when fruits have developed a uniform tan color (an exception is ‘Honeynut,’ which will continue to ripen and color-up in storage).
About Curing Winter Squash
- After cutting the fruits from the vine, sun-cure in the field for 5–7 days, or, cure indoors for 5–7 days at 80–85°F (27–29°C), in an area with good air ventilation.
- Move into cool, dry storage for the remainder of the curing period (if applicable).
Recommended Storage Conditions
Storage life is dependent upon good storage conditions. We recommend 55-60°F/12-15°C, 50-70% relative humidity and good ventilation. Repeated exposure to temperatures below 50°F/10°C may cause chilling damage, reducing storage life.
Timing Tips for Winter Squash Storage—When to Eat Which Kind
Some squash require time in storage after harvest for the best eating quality. The chart below is designed to serve as a general guide to curing requirements and the storage potential of different types of winter squash.
 Click for KEY |
Months After Maturity / Harvest | |||||||||||
| TYPE | 1 Mo | 2 Mo | 3 Mo | 4 Mo | 5 Mo | 6 Mo | ||||||
| Acorn: most varieties | 2½ | |||||||||||
| Acorn: 'Night Shift' | 4 | |||||||||||
| Acorn: 'Starry Night' | 4 | |||||||||||
| Acorn: 'Tuffy' | 1 | 2½ | ||||||||||
| Spaghetti: all varieties | 3 | |||||||||||
| Butternut (Mini): 'Butterscotch PMR' | 3 | |||||||||||
| Butternut (Mini): 'Butterbaby' and 'Honeynut' | 1 | 3½ | ||||||||||
| Delicata: most varieties | 3½ | |||||||||||
| Hubbard: 'Red Kuri' | 3 | |||||||||||
| Hubbard: 'Blue Ballet' | 1 | 4 | ||||||||||
| Hubbard: 'Tetsukubuto' | 1 | 6 | ||||||||||
| Hubbard: 'North Georgia Candy Roaster' | 1 | 5 | ||||||||||
| Buttercup: most varieties | 1 | 5 | ||||||||||
| Kabocha (Mini): 'Sunshine' | 4 | |||||||||||
| Kabocha: 'Cha Cha'; |
1 | 5 | ||||||||||
| Kabocha: 'Marmalade'; 'Winter Sweet' |
1½ | 6 | ||||||||||
| Butternut: most varieties | 2 | (Consume smaller to larger varieties across 3–6+-mo period post harvest) | ||||||||||
| KEY |
Curing Period | Optimal Eating Period | ||||||||||
Learn More
- Winter Squash • Growing Instructions • Tech Sheet (PDF)
- Winter Squash Types & Varieties • Comparison Chart (PDF)
- Breeding Winter Squashes & Edible Pumpkins for Eating Quality • Article
- The Winter Squash Eating Experience • Article
- Storage Crops • Optimal Long-term Storage Through Fall & Winter • Guidelines