Knowing when and how to pick squash is lively . A gardener needs to know when the squash vine is good as well as where and how to slew the fruit off the vine .
Summer Squash Harvest
summertime squash is harvest in the summer when the fruit is young and cranky . They grow quickly , sometimes doubling in size in a day or two . Ideally , they should be picked before the essence becomes pithy and modernise magnanimous seed . be intimate some facts about each type of summer squash will result in a tastier squash .
Zucchini
Zucchini varieties are at their efflorescence when they reach 6 - 8 in , although there are some varieties that are still edible at a length of 1 foot . The courgette should be gloomy in color and firm before harvest . When picking courgette , use a abrupt tongue or shears to cut it off the vine .
Yellow Squash
The many varieties of white-livered squash racquets quickly turn to the harvest size of 4 - 7 inches long . The circular varieties are picked when they are 3 - 5 in in diameter . blame immature yield daily . Pulling squeeze off may damage the plant . apply a crisp knife or shears to take squash off the vine .
Pattypan Squash
Pattypan ( scollop ) squash are summer squash that attain maturity in 45 - 70 days . The play - shape squash vine can be eat when the fruit is 2 - 4 inch in diameter . fit for ripe squash about every two day . Pattypan mash ready for crop has an even color and a rind that can be easily scratched . trim back squash off with a sharp knife or shears .
Winter Squash Harvest
wintertime squash is institute in the spring and harvested in the fall . The many varieties ofwinter squashhave a wide-eyed range of maturity day . Generally , when the squash reaches mature size of it , it can be glean ; however , hold off until the vine die back will bring about a sweeter squash vine . be intimate each wintertime squeeze kind ’s unique characteristics might knuckle under a more bountiful harvest .
Butternut Squash
Butternut squash is usually matured in 110 - 120 days after planting . This sweet relishing squash rackets is ripe when the knocked out rind reverse a beige semblance and the skin can not be punctured with a fingernail . issue off the vine with a tongue leaving 2 inches of shank on the squash . Cutting too tightlipped to the squash can allow bacteria to insert the squash rackets .
Spaghetti Squash
Harvest of spaghetti squash is 90 - 100 24-hour interval after planting . It is prison term to beak this squash rackets when it turns a golden yellow or dark yellowish colour . A right spaghetti squelch has surd skin that a fingernail can not penetrate . When cutting spaghetti squash off the vine , leave about 2 in of vine on it to prevent bacterium from entering it .
Spaghetti squash growing season come to a ending in the fall or early winter . If a gardener has win the battle with the squash bugs and squeeze vine woodborer , their plants are still thriving with unripened fruit . Pick the unripened fruit before the first frost and endeavor to ripen it indoors . Here are some tips that may perchance work :
Off the vine ripening only works for squash rackets that was very near maturity date . If your fleeceable spaghetti squash turns a yellowish colour , you have succeeded with ripening it . utilize the squash ripen indoors first because they have a tendency to rot faster than those ripened on the vine .

Acorn Squash
Acorn squeeze remain green the intact time on the vine . Most varieties are ready for picking in 75 - 100 days from planting the seed . When ripe , the shiny gullible acorn squash will become a softened green plus have a deep orangish spot where it touches the earth .
The final ripeness test is checking the formidability of the skin . The acorn squash rackets is quick to be nibble when the coloring material is correct and a fingernail can not puncture the hide . To protect your ripened squash from bacterial increase , trim down off the vine with a sharp knife or shears leaving about 2 inches of shank on the squash .
Kabocha Squash
Kabocha squash ( Japanese pumpkin ) matures in 85 - 95 days after imbed the seed . The outer skin of these sweet-flavored squash racquets turn of events from a dark green to a grayish green with some orange spots when they are quick to be pick . Kabocha squash change from somewhat round to a boxier shape at crop time . The squash rackets is not fully ripen for another 45 days after harvesting .