How To Grow Sweet Dumpling Winter Squash

Squash plants rely on bees and other pollinators for fruit production, so to increase pollination rates it is wise to place squash near other flowering vegetables or herbs. To improve pollination rates and thus fruit set.

Winter squash must be properly stored to prevent spoilage, with harvest taking place when its rind has hardened and its color has intensified.

Squash plants may be vulnerable to pests like aphids, cabbage loopers and armyworms. To address this threat, try encouraging natural enemies or applying Bacillus thuringiensis as a defense mechanism.

Gardening Tips

Sweet Dumpling Winter Squash variety produces single-serving acorn-shaped fruit of rosy beige hue with dark green striping, hiding succulent, bright orange flesh reminiscent of delicata squash flavors. Perfect for cold climates and storage for three months at most.

This open-pollinated variety is easy to cultivate and, as with other winter squash varieties, less susceptible to vine borer damage than summer varieties. However, it still can become susceptible to rot and disease so proper gardening practices should always be observed.

Add organic amendments, like compost or well-aged manure, before planting, then use a slow-release organic fertilizer at planting time. Plant after the last frost date in late March/early April; sow seeds 1/2-1 inch deep on moist hill-shaped mounds of soil in 1/2-1 in. deep rows; spacing will depend on whether you are growing vining types of bush plants; consult seed packets for details.

Cover the bed with a thin layer of mulch to reduce weeds, and water regularly during dry periods. Harvest squash when they reach full maturity – their hard rinds should resist puncturing with fingernail punctures and have even color throughout their surface.

As with all vegetables, regular scouting of your crop is crucial in order to detect insects and fungus issues such as powdery mildew, squash bugs or vine borers. If any problems arise, be sure to practice preventive gardening and apply broad spectrum insecticide as soon as possible.

Winter squash requires cooler temperatures and long days in order to produce fruitful yields, depending on its variety. From sowing to harvest may take up to 110 days; once harvested, curing must take place prior to storage.

Curing involves placing squashes in a warm and dry environment for one or two weeks to help dry out its rind and decrease chances of disease in storage. While most squashes can be cured outside in their garden environment, larger types may require an indoor space with good air circulation for curing purposes. Once cured, most winter squashes typically maintain quality for six months in storage.

Sowing Seeds

Sweet Dumpling winter squash variety produces individually-sized, single-serving acorn-shaped fruit. With its rosy beige to cream-colored skin featuring deep ribs that cover succulent, bright orange flesh that is extraordinarily sweet and finely grain. A prolific producer, often bearing 8-10 fruits per vine. In addition to being highly disease resistant and storage well post harvest.

Sweet Dumpling squash requires warm soil in order to thrive and produce successfully, so it is recommended that seeds be directly planted into your garden in late spring once all frost danger has passed and soil temperatures reach 70 degrees or above. Alternately, indoor seedstarting may start up to one month before the last frost date and then transplanted outside once weather conditions allow.

Seeds should be planted 1-2 inches deep and spaced 18 to 36 inches apart in 4 to 8 foot rows, depending on whether bush type plants or vining varieties will be closer together or further apart; either way, thinning will be necessary to ensure healthy plant development and maximum yield.

Once your plants begin to sprout, apply a light layer of mulch to control weeds and retain soil moisture. As squash plants tend to be moderate feeders, adding an occasional side-dressing of balanced fertilizers can further aid their success.

Sweet Dumpling Squash will reach maturity when its rind becomes hard and difficult to scratch with your fingernail, providing a good indication that it is time to harvest. Before storage, they should be field cured for 10 days prior to being stored away in their final containers.

Squash plants need full sun and rich, loamy soil that drains well, with plenty of organic matter incorporated prior to planting as winter squash has the tendency to leach nutrients out of its environment. Squash does best in soil with pH between 5.5-6.5 and benefits from regular applications of an organic fertilizer. When watering, be mindful not to oversaturate as this can lead to root rot; additionally it is wise to monitor temperatures and moisture levels regularly as winter squash plants are quite delicate when exposed to cold or dry environments.

Transplanting

Sweet Dumpling squashes are an heirloom variety that are simple and rewarding to grow, offering delicious results. Reminiscent of small pumpkins, these compact plants produce rosy beige with dark green striping and deep ribs on hard shells concealing succulent, bright orange flesh with some of the best flavor of any winter squash variety. Perfect for cooler climates as harvests and storage extend well into winter, this winter squash variety can also be harvested and stored until spring!

These open-pollinated winter squash seeds should be planted outdoors after all danger of frost has passed, or started indoors at least one month prior to your region’s last expected frost date. Since they do not transplant very well, direct sowing is recommended. Squash plants produce male and female flowers that need pollination in order to produce fruit; it is advised to plant near other flowering crops in order for pollination to take place and produce fruit. Squash requires heavy feeding conditions with rich, loose soil with good drainage before planting or sidedressed with balanced fertilizers every six weeks during its life span.

Thinning squash plants to increase production is recommended to prevent overproduction and improve quality of harvest. Bush butternuts tend to be less vulnerable to vine borer invasion and should therefore be placed where this may not be an issue.

Winter squash should be harvested when its rinds have fully hardened and are hard-shelled, giving way to tender seeds within. While waiting a little longer will likely give these sweeter seeds time to develop further, soft squashes such as those from earlier harvestings can still be consumed sooner. Care should be taken when cutting from its stem as handling might expose pathogens that threaten its flesh.

This long-storing squash will gain in flavor over time, so to store, carefully remove its stem and dry the peduncle before placing it in a cool, dark location.

Harvesting

Sweet Dumpling winter squash variety is ideal for stuffing. With its creamy ivory hue with dark green stripes and deeply orange flesh that is extremely sweet, Sweet Dumpling produces 8 to 10 fruits per vine and is disease resistant and vigorous – and harvest can happen as early as several months post sowing or indoors up until one month before frost date, where transplanting might also be possible.

Squash skin can be an accurate gauge of its readiness. Harvest the squash before the weather gets cool; otherwise it won’t last as well in cold temperatures. Summer varieties like zucchini or courgette should be harvested when their outer skin becomes hard enough to pierce with a fingernail; though harvest them quickly as over-sized fruit will quickly rot away if left for too long.

Harvesting winter squash requires extra care as its rind must become fully hard before being stored away. Once this stage has been reached, cut from vine with sharp knife and leave a couple inches of stem attached. Be gentle when handling as any cuts or denting can allow pathogens to enter, potentially shortening its shelf life during storage.

Once squash is cut, it should be placed under direct sunlight or in an inhospitable environment to help prevent spoilage in the short term and prepare it for long-term storage. This process usually takes one week; for best results place the fruit in an area that provides adequate ventilation so it can escape direct sunlight.

Squashes generally last about three to four months after harvesting and curing, with successful gardeners having the knowledge and ability to cultivate, plant, grow, harvest and use various varieties of squash in various dishes.

Species	Cucurbita
Genus	Pepo
Classification	Squash
Family	Acorn
Days To Maturity	100-110 days
Fruit Size	A small to medium-sized squash ranging in diameter from 5 to 7 inches.
Weight	¾ to 1 lb
Skin Color	Ivory skin with dark green stripes
Habit	Medium length vines
Seed Depth	½ – 1″
Seeds Per group	4 -6
Seed Spacing	6″
Space Between Hills	4 – 6′
Day To Germination	7 – 14
Thin To (Plants Per hill)	2
Year Introduced	1976
Heirloom	No
Resistance	Unknown
Usage	Edible – Very good food qualities
Storage	Sweet Dumpling winter squash does not keep well.
Space Saver	Can be planted in your landscaping or in a very large pot.  Also, can be grown vertically.
Substitution	substitutes for Acorn or carnival