It’s harvest time! It’s funny, but if you live in a tropical place, having a cooler season to do the harvest sounds amazing. I have learned, however, that in countries with four seasons, there are certain foods that can be harvested late summer or autumn, and spaghetti squash is one of them.
Wouldn’t it be great to harvest when the air is cool and the temperature mild? Let me explain the basics of spaghetti squash farming and the best time to pick it.
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When To Pick Spaghetti Squash?
What Is Spaghetti Squash?
What is spaghetti squash you may ask? Well, this delightful vegetable is a healthy-looking yellowy-orange which is also popularly known as winter squash.
It comes from the plant group Cucurbita Pepo, which is in the same family as the common pumpkin. Spaghetti squash is different from the others since its strands look like spaghetti pasta, thus its name.
How To Grow Spaghetti Squash
Cooking spaghetti squash is simple, but what about planting it? You’re going to need greenfingers here, rookie! You’ll need the right farming tools and a space to plant it (your backyard will do) in order to get it to sprout. A little help from the sun, a few sprinkles of rain, and a handful of patience will do the trick.
If you watch this video guide on how to plant spaghetti squash, what can go wrong?
What Is The Best Season To Pick Spaghetti Squash?
Since spaghetti squash is classified as a winter squash species, I thought the best time to harvest it was during wintertime, but I discovered it is best harvested during the period from late summer to early fall.
Since the times of the seasons differ around the world (fall is in September for some), I will just say that it needs to be harvested when it is mature, and it is best to do it at a given time and day of the season.
How Do I Know When Spaghetti Squash Is Ready For Picking?
I have excitedly peeked at my spaghetti squash almost every morning, but how do I know if it is ready for picking?
- First, check what it looks like. If it is already ripe, its color will either be a nice golden yellow or dark yellow.
- Feel the skin of the squash. It should be nice and thick when it’s ready to be picked.
- Use your nail to feel if the skin is still thin. If so, let it ripen a little bit more.
- Make sure you use the garden shears when harvesting. Do not pull it hard from the vine, as you will take forever wrestling with it.
Here is an actual video on how to know if it is ready to be picked:
Where Does The Spaghetti Squash Go After Being Picking?
After harvesting, it most likely goes to three different places.
- If you have harvested more than you need, you can sell it to the market.
- If you want to store spaghetti squash at home, there are two ways:
1. Store it whole and raw in a place that is cool and dark, preferably a big storage place. Storing it this way will keep it cool for an average of 3 months.
- Make sure they have enough space and do not touch each other.
- Check frequently and if you see dark spots starting to form, it is better take it out and cook it.
Here is a video that shows you how to store them:
2. Freeze them after cooking. This method will keep them longer until you need to use them. It only requires a small amount of space.
We have featured how to freeze spaghetti squash recently and here is a link to the guide >> How to freeze spaghetti squash.
- It goes straight on your dinner table, ready to be eaten!
What Are The Health Benefits Of Spaghetti Squash?
Is spaghetti squash healthy? Yep! It sure is! In fact, here are some of the benefits that we can receive:
- It helps to maintain the health of your eyes.
- It helps with weight loss.
- It contains antioxidants.
- It helps with the heart.
- It helps to prevent birth defects.
- It helps with anti-inflammatory, which helps prevent cancer.
It is important to know the health benefits of the food that we often eat and you can be sure spaghetti squash is healthy. So let’s start cooking!
I have featured my favorite spaghetti squash recipe collections and I suggest you try them. I know you’ll love the taste! Here is a link >> Spaghetti squash recipes.
I hope this article was informative enough, answered your questions, and helped you to find out when to pick spaghetti squash. Good luck with your harvest!
