47 Winter Squash Recipes You Have To Try - You Should Grow (2024)

FAQs

What is the best winter squash to grow? ›

Delicata, along with butternut, is a choice that may be easier to grow than some. Choose one of the many buttercup, kabocha, or hubbard types from A.P. Whaley seed company or Fedco. The blue/green color squashes on this baking sheet are the 'Baby Blue Hubbard' variety, which will grow well in northern climates.

So which winter squash is the overall nutrient heavyweight? Acorn squash wins the match. It offers more folate, calcium, magnesium (nearly one-third of a day's worth in one cup) and potassium than butternut, hubbard and spaghetti squash.

Because winter squash requires a long growing season (generally from 75 to 100 frost-free days), the seeds are generally planted by late May in northern locations to early July in extremely southern states. See your local frost dates and length of growing season.

Cucurbita moschata

Known as one of the easiest to grow of the 4 families, some popular moschata varieties are Butternut, Cherokee Tan, Seminole, and Watham squash. These need to be cured for 6-8 weeks and are medium to long vining so they need lots of dedicated space. This family can store the longest, from 4-6 months.

For example, winter squash tends to ramble and vine all over the garden. It will easily trample root crops like radishes. The broad leaves and fast-growing squash vines are also prone to shading out anything planted too close to it.

While the high beta-carotene content in squash can provide many benefits, studies also suggest that consuming too much of this compound can increase the risk of lung cancer. In addition, some types of prepared squash include high amounts of added sugar.

Over the past several years, butternut squash has become a standard ingredient on menus as the star in a creamy soup, ravioli filling, or risotto flavor. It is the sweetest winter squash with a thick, bright orange, moist flesh that hides very few seeds.

This squash has a lot of antioxidants, which can boost your immunity and help your body to fight off certain diseases. Acorn squash contains antioxidants like vitamin C that help strengthen bones and blood vessels.

Acorn squash is milder in taste and slightly more fibrous in texture than butternut squash: Its sweet, nutty flavor is additionally muted by the watery character of its flesh. Still, most recipes that call for acorn squash can be made with another members of the squash family, such as Hubbard or butternut.

The principal difference is that a butternut is starchier than an acorn. This makes it smoother in texture, which gives it more versatility in how it is cooked or served. Acorn squash is generally eaten just the way it comes out of the oven or steamer, while butternut can be mashed, puréed, made into soup, etc.

What is the driest winter squash? ›

Cucurbita maxima : Kabocha, Hubbard & Buttercup

C. maxima types tend to have the highest dry matter of all the squash types, and are often too dry to eat at harvest.

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.

Soil and Water

Winter squash plants grow best in rich, well-draining soil with a pH range of 6.0-6.5. Test your soil's pH and amend it if necessary to reach this range. Once the plants fill out, they take a fair amount of water, so a consistent watering plan is crucial.

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.

Hubbard & Butternut

Fruits are best after 1–2 months of storage, and will keep 4–6 months. (NOTE: Because of its smaller size, 'Butterscotch PMR' is an exception; it can be consumed at harvest, and is best within 3 months of harvest.)

1. Butternut Squash. Bulbous, smooth-skinned butternuts (Cucurbita moschata) get high marks among organic gardeners because the sturdy vines are naturally resistant to squash vine borers, and because squash bugs usually prefer other types of winter squash.

The principal difference is that a butternut is starchier than an acorn. This makes it smoother in texture, which gives it more versatility in how it is cooked or served. Acorn squash is generally eaten just the way it comes out of the oven or steamer, while butternut can be mashed, puréed, made into soup, etc.