When to Plant Acorn Squash
Knowing when to plant your acorn squash seeds is important, as it does require a long growing season to fully mature. Acorn squash typically takes 80-100 days to harvest, so you need to plan accordingly.
Additionally, acorn squash does not tolerate cold well, so the soil needs to reach at least 60°F (16°C) before you can plant the seeds. If the ground is not warm enough, the seeds will not germinate.
How to Plant Acorn Squash
Some types of squash like butternut and pumpkin send out long vines, and this holds true for acorn squash as well. To be sure you have enough room for the sprawling plants, you should plant the seeds in an area where you do not plan to have other plants growing.
Although you can plant acorn squash in rows, they perform better when you plant them in hills. The soil in hills warms more quickly, plus help keep the roots of the acorn squash from becoming waterlogged. Plant 5-6 seeds in each hill, and once they have grown two sets of leaves, pull out all but three of the healthiest plants.
Tip: If you are concerned about lack of space, you can also easily grow acorn squash in a container and train the vines to climb a trellis.
Caring for Acorn Squash
Acorn squash is also similar to other kinds of squash in that they are easy to grow, but do require certain things to thrive. The three most important things to give your plants is:
- Abundant sunlight. Acorn squash need a bare minimum of six hours of sunlight a day.
- Frequent watering to keep the soil around the crown of the plant damp.
- Regular applications of a good organic fertilizer.
Using Acorn Squash
Provided you have taken the proper care of your acorn squash, you can easily end up with dozens of fruits to store into the winter. From there, you can concoct both sweet and savory recipes or even stuff the acorn squash with a hearty filling. Any way you prepare it, you can guarantee that your family will love it.
