How can I tell when the squash I'm growing in my garden is ready to be picked?

Question

I live in zone 5 of the growing map. I don't want to dig the squash up if it's not ready (Ripe)

Answer 1

When a squash palnt blooms it is a matter of 2 days you will see tiny squash behind the large yellow flowers....it can be picked at this stage if you want to it is a delicatessan....however for maximum food..dont let it grow over 6 inches long to pick, for it gets too tough..squash will grow as big as small watermelons sometimes if you let it go, but inedible at this stage..it is a gourd..Some people take the tiny squash with the blooms attached, squash being no bigger than 1 to 2 inches long....they spread the blooms open, fill with cream cheese, dip in a batter of your choice, and then deep fry!...Check out my squash plants on my flickr photos....page 11 picture titled 'squash" picture 005..link below..u do not dig squash btw..you pick each one individually..also squash is a morphadike, so you will see some of the flowers on long stems and no squash..these are the male flowers...

Answer 2

Dig up the squash? Are you growing squash or potatoes?

Seriously, if you are growing summer squash like zucchini, pick them before they get too big. I like my zucchini at about six inches long and an inch in diameter. Bigger is OK, too, but superbig is too much zucchini!

If it's winter squash, like pumpkins or acorn, wait until they are the proper color, and the shell should be pretty hard -- you can't indent it with a fingernail.

Summer squash is still delicious if it is picked too early. It also produces more if you pick it often, so experiment, and find out which stage of maturity your family likes best.

Winter squash is better if you pick it ripe, then you take extra steps so you can store it. Some varieties taste best after they've been stored for two or three months (around Thanksgiving). You should research the variety you are growing on the internet. Look for sites with "edu" in the URL, because these will often be universities that are giving advice for the home gardener. Choose a university near your home, if you can.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Squash doesn't really get ripe [like tomatoes] it just gets big enuf to cook! The long green kind is zucchini, the yellow kind is like it but sometimes has a curved neck next to the stem. Both kinds can be picked for eating when they are right around 4 to 6 inches long, but less than 8 to 10 inches long. If you let them get too large, they get kind of fibrous or woody inside and haven't got the best flavour. There's another scalloped roundish kind [called 'summer squash' or 'patty-pan'] that you can pick when it's about 3 - 5" in diameter, but the same goes for them too--don't let it get too huge. If you pick when these guys are small, you can cook them whole...larger guys can be sliced and sauteed or steamed. Yum!

Answer 4

If the squash is about 7 to 8 inches long. Depending on the type of squash . If zucchini and it is light in color it's ready. If starting to turn yellow then throw away.

Answer 5

Small tender squashes have delicate skin and smaller seeds, so pick them young. They tend to continue producing longer when you keep picking them.