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Pumpkins, Squash & Gourds

Questions about growing winter (acorn) squash in the spring

13 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 :)

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Comments (4)

farmerdill
13 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}}
tetrazygia
Original Author
13 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 :)
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Thanks for replying Trev. The soil is above the rim of the pot- but I did this because I have mel's mix in it, and it will settle quite a bit- after a couple of good waterings. About the size of the pot - I know that it may not work, but it's the largest one that I have. I don't see any possibililty of getting the thing transplanted anytime soon in the garden, because the cantaloupes and melons are really pressed for time- to get done before the first of September. I was mainly trying to buy myself some time with the plant. Could you clarify something for me Trev? I want to make sure that i'm understanding you right about the leaf nodes. Are you saying that if I set the container next to my garden- so that the vines run across the top of the soil, small roots will come out of each leaf node, and plant itself into the soil? If this is what you are saying, then I may be able to do that - as soon as the cucumbers are done producing. Do you think an area of soil that is 2ft wide and 4ft long would be enough for this to take place? Once it has reached the 4 ft mark, I could force it up the trellis that is 6 ft tall. Thanks Trev. One of these days, I hope to repay you for all of your help. EG
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It has been an unusual growing season so that could be playing into the flavor outcome. I had a few frost warnings a month ago. Now the long past summer squashes i had not gotten around to cleaning the beds, are producing a second core of green and a new crop. Not sure of my varieties. It was a mixed packet trade. The white i roasted was about the size of an acorn i roasted with it. A bit bigger than a softball. I cut them in half, cut side down, on a parchment lined 1/2 sheet pan. That day i was roasting quartered toms, whole garlic heads, onions, peppers, etc, just keeping up with the bounty. About 8 sheet pans in rotation. Made a few different soups to freeze in a muti-tasking frenzy. It did not look promising at first. Once it cooled down and settled, while i was busy doing other thing, it became much more creamy and the flavor bloomed. Growing for market or farm stand is an exhausting amount of work. Most buyers have no idea what to do with it all. A guessing game i'm sure what will sell. Seasonal crop recipe cards might help. I've done that for my friends farm. When i stop by for a visit, (for corn, i don't grow corn), i'm always asked by strangers, "what's that? what do you do with that?". I bet 90% of winter squash/pumpkins are purchased for decoration.
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lol all good, we use the 3 or the 4 bottom plow with 18" Mow-Boards. we try to plow abought 10 to 12 inches deep for potatoes... we have no sandy soil here just lots of slate and rock witch makes for a fun day of plowing. i am so glad we are not still doing 200 arces of potatoes. we down sized to just 20 arces of potatoes and got into growing other stuff i think i spend more time picking rocks then plowing, at least thats what my back tells me..
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farmerdill
13 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.
tetrazygia
Original Author
13 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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