Winter squash are like potatoes. If you store them right, they will seriously last you most of the winter–at least until you can get out and grow yourself some cool weather kale and spinach.
To ensure that you get the longest life out of your squash, start by picking it at the right time. The squash shouldn’t be wet at all, so don’t pick after the sprinklers have come on or after a rain. Cut the squash from the vine, instead of pulling it. That way, you won’t accidentally break off the stem too close to the squash, causing a blemish that will speed up rot. Also, make sure to pick it before the nighttime temperatures dip into the 40’s. Don’t let the name fool you, winter squash does not like it to be too cold.
The first step in storing winter squash is curing. Curing is basically a fancy word for leaving the squash out somewhere warmish with good air circulation and ignoring for a week and a half to two weeks. Curing helps make sure any excess water leaves the squash and makes it taste better long term.
Some people like to give their squash a quick diluted bleach bath before storage. It helps to kill any fungus or bacteria on the squash. If you do decide to give your squash a bath, dilute it 1 part bleach to 10 parts water. Rinse well after the bath and dry completely before storing. This step is completely optional.
Winter squash are happiest when stored at about 55 degrees. If you have a root cellar, well, then I’m jealous. If you don’t, your best bet is going to be a basement or garage. They need to be completely dry throughout storage, so either keep them up on a shelf or in a box, where water from melting snow off of the cars, etc. can’t get to them.
Depending on the type of squash you are storing {acorn has the shortest shelf life, while blue hubbard has one of the longer shelf lives}, it will last anywhere from 4 weeks to 7 months.
What’s the longest you’ve successfully stored a winter squash?
~Mavis
Sarah says
Mavis, I just wanted to warn everyone that a root cellar is far too humid to properly store winter squashes. My root cellar averages 95% humidity. Most do best with 60-70% humidity, and 55-60 degrees. The only exception is acorn squash. You shouldn’t cure it and it will store best below 55 degrees. Much more than that and the flesh will get stringy. When storing it is best to lay them out in a single layer to allow air flow and prevent bruising. If you do try to store squash without the stem beeswax covering the stem area will help it store longer. I’ve stored squash this way for years and I have used the previous years hubbards well into June.
sharon says
Our banana and spaghetti squash lasted all winter in a basement store room. We gave the last of last years to the chickens in Sept this year.
Kevin Wilson says
Agree with Sarah – winter squash like to be stored warmer and dryer than spuds. Since we keep our bedroom cool, we store ours under the bed, whereas the potatoes live in the basement of the front porch where it stays coolest.
Longest we’ve stored is a year for a butternut squash. When cooked, the texture was OK but it had lost a lot of sweetness.
Jaime says
Hi Mavis!
I grew Cinderella pumpkins last year, go some beauties! Used them for outside decorating, moved them in for Thanksgiving, still had one in my pantry in March. Was scared to cut it open but when I did it was like I had just picked it!!! Baked it and was very good! Didn’t have good luck this year with them but had lots of Cushaw, very good too.
BTW, got some chicks this last spring…what an adventure! Just started getting the eggs and am loving it.
Mavis Butterfield says
Fresh eggs are the best! 🙂
Amy G says
I’ve had small wonder spaghetti squash last well into the spring, and I just kept it on a tray under the buffet in my dining room.
Barb says
Love small wonder spaghetti sqaush! I don’t have the space to grow it and it’s difficult to find in my area. I found some yesterday and bought all the good sized ones with out blemishes. They were priced by the piece and not by weight. It was a happy score.
Fayette says
Great advice to a newbie. First real garden I have tried in more than 30 years and I had two volunteer squash from the compost heap that took over a lot of the back side. I had no idea what to do with them. All of the advice is priceless. Thank you Mavis and thanks to all of you that commented!