Autumn joy are here ! For me , walking through a Cucurbita pepo speckle to select colorful fall interior decoration and handling oddly - regulate calabash are seasonal highlight that make me felicitous from top to bottom . A close relative of those curious plants in the cucumber family ( Cucurbitaceae ) are wintertime squash . pumpkin , gourds , and wintertime squash racquets are all extremity of the genusCucurbita(Latin term for gourd ) . Winter squash , also have a go at it asCucurbita maxima , Cucurbita moschata , andCucurbita pepo , are affectionate - season annual vines that climb up fences or develop along the earth .
Native to South America , winter squash plants were first tame in Argentina , Bolivia , and Uruguay . Although you may find them in grocery store throughout the year , you typically see plenty of these strikingCucurbitain local markets during October and November . These plants develop and produce yield in the summer time of year , but they can be stored during fall and winter , which explicate their common name : winter squash .
You are probably familiar with some coloured varieties of winter squash , often used for decorative dip arrangements . Their simple leaves are rounded and unlobed , but the actual form will vary among species . Squash leaves lean to be tumid to shield acquire fruit from overexposure to sunlight . The root have vining habits and are usually loggerheaded and rough-textured .
Cucurbitaare monecious , with separate male and female flowers on different piece of the same plant . The beautiful blossom are yellow , with deep cupful composed of five petal . Male peak , which appear first , have long , thin stem with a single protruding still hunt inside that ’s full of pollen . distaff flower have myopic stems with a bulging base and three thick stalks inside . Small worm crawl around in these flowers are a common quite a little , and their job is to transplant pollen from male person to distaff flower . This check pollenation and subsequent fertilization to produce cum . Without those processes , mash plants would not bear fruit .
Winter Squash Varieties
The bright colors and divers shapes of wintertime squash are challenging . In fact , you might never guess that some of these varied specimens are even touch . This article describes five distinct type that are gentle to set up for use in cooking and baking .
Hubbard squashhas several names , include butterflower and light-green autumn pumpkin . It can grow to be rather large – up to 50 ( 22.7 kg ) pounds . The gray to greenish - blue cutis is very tough and hard to cut , so this squash is sometimes sold in pre - cut musical composition . The cryptical orangish flesh inside is observably sweet and highly nutritious . Hubbard squash rackets can be boiled , roast , steamed , sauteed , or pureed for consumption .
Acorn squashis disconsolate dark-green with splashes of xanthous or orange on its problematic outer skin . This squash has the same shape as an acorn ( minus the top hat ) with a somewhat pointed end and placid ridge that run longitudinally from top to bottom . Acorn squeeze weighs from one to three pounds , and its bod is golden in color . This squash racquets can be baked , stuff , steamed , or zap and is an excellent substitute for pumpkin in favorite pie recipes .
Delicata squash , sometimes call peanut squash , is oblong in shape and approximately six inch long ( 15 cm ) and three inch across ( 75 cm ) . The outer pelt is creamy colored with greenish stipes , and the flesh is light scandalmongering and agreeably sweet . Delicata skin is tender and can be corrode , but this thin exterior cuticle decreases the length of time that this squash rackets can be store .
Tan - coloredbutternut squashis shaped like a nursing bottle with an stretch cervix and bulgy goal . The privileged material body is shining orange and rather dense with a pantry , nutty flavor . Butternut squash racquets can be roasted , steam clean , or slew into smaller pieces to be saute and pureed for habit in soup or as a delicious filling in pasta recipe .
Finally , there’sspaghetti squash , which could well get ahead first prize for being unique . Its lean yellow skin incorporate a delightful surprise inside . After ready thisCucurbita , remove the yellow bod with the tines of a fork , and what issue forth out is a ropy set of thin filament that resemble spaghetti . Use this savory - tasting squash in a vegetable medley or only contribute tomatoes , basil , and grated Malva sylvestris for a fresh , scrumptious look - alike of angel hair pasta with sauce .
That ’s just the beginning ! Have fun exploring more varieties of winter squash , such as Banana , Turban , Cushaw , Calabasa , or Kabocha . Or try tasty new adventures by roasting small squash with thin , eatable skins , such as Sweet Dumpling and Carnival . The common denominator for the firm flesh of every character of winter squash is versatility and nutritionary value . Whatever cooking method you pick out , the productive look ofCucurbitawill prevail . wintertime squash vine are fat source of genus Beta carotene , vitamin C and B6 , and fiber , and all are pack with protein , magnesium , and potassium .
educate Winter Squash
Most wintertime squash racquets coinage have similar seeds : slight beige teardrops about ½ in in length . SowCucurbitaseeds in late spring when the dirt has warm up to a temperature of at least 60 ° F and after the last frost date . Plant seeds at a depth of one inch in fertile , well - drained land . Mound the soil first and then plant seed at the center of the “ hill top ” where the soil is warmer .
Squash thrive in full Lord’s Day and need sufficient country for their sprawling vines to overspread out . If there ’s limited infinite for planting , place squeeze near the edge of a garden and let vine grow outwards into the lawn . Mulch areas around the seed to keep moisture , prevent weed growth , and protect the shallow ascendent that produce on squash plants . Cucurbitaneed plenty of water , and because they are heavy feeder , organic plant food should be added to the soil sporadically .
A potential problem forCucurbitais the presence of squash bug , which are notorious for destroy squash crop . Look for tiny egg clusters on the bottom of folio and scrape them off right away . Or , spray neem oil on the egg and the untried squash glitch before they inflict legal injury on the plants .
harvest home and Curing Winter Squash
It ’s broadly beneficial to wait until late September or early October to harvest winter squash racquets , but some may be right and quick to go in August . Harvest the yield when it ’s in full mature . depend for firm , shiny pelt and vine that are begin to dry out . Cut the stem with a discriminating tongue or lopper ( invalidate tearing ) and leave at least one inch on the fruit .
Cure winter squash to dry off any extra moisture and harden the peel ; this keeps bacteria and fungi out . direct crush in a tender , ironical area indoors , such as on a sunny windowsill . After that , dunk theCucurbitainto a rinse of gloomy - density whitener solution ( 5 cups water plus ½ cup bleach ) to sanitize the outer covering . Next , the squash is quick for store in a dark elbow room with dependable air circulation . It can be stored for a month or more , but be sure to check every few days for any indication of disintegration .
savour the fruits of your labor and brilliant wellness with tasty recipes that call for wintertime squash rackets !
References in Print
Philips , Roger and Rix , Martyn ( 1993).The Random House Book of Vegetables . New York : Random House .
Online Resources
Cucurbita maxima ( Autumn Squash , Buttercup Squash , Hubbard Squash , Marrow , Pumpkin , Squash , Turban Gourd , Winter Squash ) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ( ncsu.edu )
Cucurbita moschata ( Butternut Squash , Calabasa , Calabaza , Crookneck Squash , Pumpkin , Squash , Winter Squash ) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ( ncsu.edu )
Winter Squash in the Home Garden(Penn State Ext.2020 )
Cucurbita maxima ( wintertime squash ): Go Botany ( nativeplanttrust.org )
Cucurbita maxima – Plant Finder ( missouribotanicalgarden.org )
Yard and Garden : Harvesting and store Winter Squash | News ( iastate.edu )
Pumpkin ( Cucurbita pepo ; C. maxima ; C. moschata ; C. mixta)-Hort Answers – University of Illinois Extension
Winter Squash | The Nutrition Source | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
