Autumn Harvest Butternut Squash Noodle Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How many days to harvest butternut squash? ›

In general, butternut squash takes about 100 to 120 days from planting time to mature. So if you're growing butternut squash and you planted seeds in late spring, you'll begin harvesting by late summer.

Ripening Off the Vine

If you do harvest butternut squash early and find that the flavor is not fully developed, you can attempt to ripen them off the vine. Place the harvested squash in a warm and dry area with good air circulation, similar to the curing process.

You can spiralize pretty much everything! From butternut squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, zucchini, even broccoli stalks (those turn out as short pieces not the long curly ones).

The One Way To Tell Butternut Squash Is Ripe

Light to dark green spots on the skin tells you it's definitely not ready to be eaten. If the skin is very pale—more creamy white than tan—it's not ripe. Look for a rich tan, darker amber, or orange color. It should also be matte, not glossy.

how many squash do you get per plant? For butternut squash you can expect 5 or 6 fruits per plant through the growing season, for some larger squash and pumpkins you may only get 2 to 4.

Once the plants have their first set of true leaves, thin each hill to the two strongest plants. The butternut squash growing season is about 110-120 days for fruit maturation, so if your season is short, it's best to start your seeds indoors to give them a head start.

Butternut squash (Figure 4), for example, turn their characteristic mature tan color some two-to-three weeks before they should be harvested for best quality. If harvested too early, the developing seed inside butternut squash will utilize nutrients stored in the flesh to mature, decreasing its eating quality.

Knowing exactly when to harvest butternut squash is essential for reaping the tastiest crop. Get the timing right and you will be rewarded with glorious, firm produce that is full of nutrients and health boosting minerals. Leave it too long and you run the risk of your lovingly tended squash going soft in the frosts.

After harvesting, cure winter squash (except for the acorn types) at a temperature of 80 to 85°F and a relative humidity of 80 to 85 percent. Curing helps to harden the squash skins and heal any cuts and scratches.

How to hack butternut squash? ›

Microwaving the squash will make it much easier to peel. Simply slice off the top and bottom, poke the squash all over with a fork and microwave it on high for about 3 minutes. When it's cool enough to handle, peel the squash. The softened flesh will make peeling (and slicing) way easier.

Butternut squash, cut into 1-inch cubes, should be perfectly roasted after about 25 to 35 minutes in an oven heated to 400 degrees F. When it's done, the squash should be lightly browned and easily pierced with a fork.

Skin. The skin or rind should be hard and pass the fingernail test: when scratching it with your fingernail leaves a mark or breaks, the butternut squash isn't ready; it needs for time for the skin to harden. Another indicator is dull and not glossy or shiny skin.

It's best to leave the majority of your crop on the vine until late September or October to ensure the thick skins necessary for winter storage, but make sure you have your butternut squash harvest in before the first frost.

A squash that's ready will certainly have a thick, woody stem. If there's any trace of lively looking green-bendy-fleshiness left in the stem, it's not yet ready. Try to see if you can make a little indent with your fingernail or if your thumb makes an imprint when pressing against the tough squash skin.

Winter squash needs regularly watering, especially when the squash themselves are forming. Water your winter squash an inch a week at minimum, but they will be happy with more – especially if you are in a dry climate. Stop watering when the fruit is fully mature.