Squash plants thrive best in warm conditions with well-draining soil. To improve drainage, add organic material such as manure or compost prior to planting squash plants.
Winter squash varieties that have been properly prepared may last until spring if properly stored. To maintain high-quality results, store in a warm environment with moderate humidity.
Sunlight
Spaghetti squash (Cucurbita pepo) belongs to the winter squash family, alongside other varieties such as acorn, butternut and delicata squashes. Winter squash fruits feature hard rinds that can keep their freshness for several months when stored in a cool and dry location; planting season for most types of winter squash should begin in late spring after last frost has occurred – maturation typically takes around 100 days from start to harvest time.
For optimal squash growth, begin with rich, well-drained soil. Add compost before planting and add slow-release organic fertilizer with more phosphorous. Avoid fertilizers high in nitrogen that promote long vines but few flowers and fruit production; opt instead for formulas with higher concentrations of this element such as 2 tablespoons of an organic granular fertilizer spread around each squash plant when they reach 6 inches tall and again when vines begin flowering.
Watering squash plants properly is also essential, but beware not to overwater them, which could lead to fungal disease. A drip irrigation system is an excellent choice as it targets only the roots with moisture while keeping foliage dry – thus decreasing your risk for diseases like powdery mildew.
Cleanliness around your squash garden is also key to mitigating pests. As well as clearing away fallen leaves or other debris, consider covering it with row covers from planting day until bloom time – this will block moths laying squash vine borer eggs while still giving pollinators access.
Harvesting spaghetti squash can be easy if you know how to recognize when its vegetables are ripe. To test their readiness, press your thumbnail into their rind to feel for toughness; once ripeness has been confirmed, cut from vine and left in sunlight for 7 to 10 days before cutting away from vine and eating!
Water
Spaghetti squash plants have an oblong shape with thin skin that resembles spaghetti strands, giving this winter squash its name. While vines may be easier for larger gardens, mounds are sometimes preferred in smaller plots. Sow seeds in your garden after the last frost date or start them indoors three to four weeks ahead for transplanting outdoors, watering the soil gently after planting to minimize plant disturbance and keeping soil moisture levels up until harvest time when harvesting is ready; harvest, remove seeds from cure for up to six months before harvesting (see our Seeds & More catalog for seeds!).
Transplanting can cause undue stress for squash plants; allow them to adjust in their new home for at least 3-5 days before watering again.
Fertilization
Squash plants must be adequately fertilized in order to produce large fruits. A good time and place to apply liquid fertilizers is after the first set of flowers begin forming; this will ensure pollination of female flowers on time for mature fruit production. A 10-10-10 formula liquid fertilizer works great as an all-purpose option; simply sprinkle around the base of your plants as directed on its label and repeat this step as instructed on its label.
Squash plants thrive best when planted in full sun, so select an area with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day for their placement. If it becomes excessively hot for too long, your squash plants may droop as a means of conserving resources; once temperatures have subsided again they should perk back up again.
Seeds may be planted directly into the ground or started indoors under lights before transplanting outdoors when temperatures allow. Spaghetti squashes require a relatively long growing season – typically 100 days from sowing until maturity is reached; to maximize your harvest choose an early-maturing variety such as ‘Small Wonder’ for optimal results.
As with winter squashes in general, spaghetti squashes can become susceptible to fungal diseases like powdery mildew. To minimize their susceptibility, make sure that you water your squash plants early morning so the foliage has time to dry before nightfall arrives. Also try planting them alongside perforated tin cans at planting time and filling these periodically throughout the week with water from an outdoor source such as rainwater.
Prune your squash plants regularly using hand pruners in order to increase fruit production and promote air circulation, deter pests and diseases, and help prevent squash bugs (Anasa tristis). If this becomes an issue for your crops, apply an insecticide spray around their base as soon as possible.
If your squash starts to shrivel or turn brown at its stem end, this could be a telltale sign that its calcium needs are being met insufficiently by its soil. This condition is known as blossom end rot and happens when plants can’t access enough of this essential mineral from it. To combat it, conduct a soil test and add organic sources of calcium such as gypsum.
Pruning
Winter squash (Acorn, Butternut, Spaghetti and Hubbard) plants are grown throughout the summer in order to produce one-time harvests at the end of each growing season. You’ll know they are ready when their vines have died back and their fruits are matured in your garden – when their stems become hard and their rind tough enough that your fingernail cannot pierce through them easily. After harvesting has taken place they should be stored cool and dry for several months after being collected from storage bins.
Your options for growing squash include the garden, large pot, or using trellising for vining varieties. Direct seed after the last frost date or start indoors three to four weeks beforehand for best results. A good rule of thumb for hill or mound plantings should allow for 4 feet between hill or mound placements and one between individual plants in rows.
