How to Grow Butternuts, Pumpkins, and Any Other Winter Squash | A Complete Guide

In todays video we are exploring the wide world of winter squash.
Questions I address: how to grow winter squash, how to grow pumpkins, can you save seed on squash, how to cure squash, which squashes you need to cure, how to store winter squash and more.
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[@stonedapefarmer]

Just a note that Oregon State University found that unirrigated/dry farmed winter squash rated highest in taste tests as compared to irrigated squash. They also stored longer... you know, like actually through winter... even for varieties that are naturally poor storers. For reference, we get less than an inch of rain per month during the growing season, and often no rain at all.

[@joycee5493]

Thank you for sharing this…very interesting… especially the taste part. Yum

[@BDThomas]

My only experiences with growing the squash family: 1.) In the 3rd grade we did a science project where the teacher had us plant zucchini seeds in little paper cups. We brought them home at the end of the project with 3 or 4 leaves on them. I planted mine in our back yard and it exploded into a monster-sized plant and absolutely inundated us with dozens upon dozens of zucchini. Unfortunately, I'm allergic to zucchini, lol. Oops. 2.) A few years ago a volunteer pumpkin vine popped out of our compost pile and aggressively overtook our backyard. It was HUGE... it bloomed, had some pumpkins developing, and then seemingly overnight it just dropped dead. Squash vine borers, apparently. :( I am determined to someday grow one of those 1,000-pound pumpkins you see in the news.

[@mimi27513]

Quick thumbs up for the pumpkin joke :-)

[@joanies6778]

Made me laugh! 🤣

[@erikaboyer4125]

Pump-kin joke “dad level” 😎

[@StubbsMillingCo.]

As soon as I laughed I hit the 👍🏻

[@mimi27513]

@@StubbsMillingCo. same!!

[@andyanderson9836]

@@joanies6778 aaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwww2

[@hisroyalblueness]

I thought it might be worth mentioning that, for home growers with only a small number of squash to deal with, you can grow 2 or more varieties together, but prevent cross pollination of a few fruits for seed, by putting an elastic band round specific flowers and only opening them briefly to hand pollinate them before locking them away again. It’s a bit fiddly but, if you have the inspiration and the patience to do it, it certainly works😊 Love the stuff you do farmer Jessie - you’re a fantastic resource for any grower! 👍

[@ashleyalexander7388]

thanks

[@floriswou]

Not just for home growers, but farmers can apply this as well: with just a few of their plants out in the field to save enough seed for the next season.

[@tracycrider7778]

Thank you for the advice ❤❤

[@that_garden_gnome]

nice nice

[@user-bk8iy1sd7r]

Yep that's what I've been doing i have a acer plot but 1/2 is house and driveway and garage so I only have a 100 ft by 60ft fenced in area and another maybe 1000 square ft ( in smaller plots and on steep 35% hills but I plant everything on top on eachother, companion plant and for the seeds next year i do exactly what you suggest

[@renatehaeckler9843]

One year my pigs planted squash and I wound up with around 75 butternut and cushaw squash. I stored them decoratively in the living room, along one wall. Looking at them made me happy. I did share some with the pigs, mostly the ones that didn't have time to ripen before frost.

[@mimi27513]

This contradicts the hot fertilizer theory, maybe?

[@renatehaeckler9843]

@@mimi27513 It's hard to say how much fertilizer they got in the old pig pen - I think the soil there has a lot of buried manure tho it gets compacted so much that most plants struggle to grow in it. I didn't water, weed, or mulch those plants, tho, because I didn't notice them for the first month or so. It kind of blew most of my ideas of how to care for squash but I'm not sure how to replicate it on purpose.

[@mimi27513]

@@renatehaeckler9843 I was half joking- thanks for the reply, all the same :-). All kinds of things sprout in my compost until it heats up enough. Happy growing!!

[@eugeneforster3085]

The first time I read this I thought some of your pigs didn't ripen before frost! My best squash grows just outside my chicken run, and provides shade for the chickens.

[@zprince4120]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXXGgmquqpmCqq8

[@malcolmt7883]

Last year I had two Musquee de Province plants produce 190 pounds. Good thing my fat dog likes to eat pumpkins.

[@lindy404]

Lucky you…👍🏻I had zero Musquee de Provence from my one and only puny plant!😏

[@PartTimePermies]

Last year, we planted winter squash and corn in our winter chicken run after moving the chickens to summer pasture. The squash really liked that spot

[@briansakurada858]

I always find it interesting that so many market gardeners say squash is not profitable. Squash is #10 in my top 10 crops on my micro farm in Japan. Butternut saves me every September when I didn't keep up with summer planting and all the summer fruiters are slowing down and there's no leaves available yet. I stick it in the ground and come back a couple months later, absolutely 0 maintenance, it's the best.

[@livingwellanyway3279]

A good way to save seed from closely planted squashes is to hand pollinate a not-quite-open female flower with a male flower on the same plant, then keep that a gause bag over that female flower. When the fruit forms mark that fruit for seed saving by adding colored yarn or tape on its stem.

[@DrCocomewa]

He has all your psychedelics and trips and for your pains,aches too. 🍄lsd, dmt and chocolate bars 👆🏻👆🏻cbs oil and all pills etc. thank me later…🙃

[@brucetepke8150]

I just ate one of last year's spaghetti squash. In my experience, they stay fresh until the next summer.

[@michaelo6124]

You put a lot of efforts into your videos. But your videos stay on message and deliver the most important information. For that, I thank and applaud you. Well done video on winter squash. 10/10. Respect.

[@Jhaldmer]

I don’t know who you are talking to but i will never can’t imagine you making jokes to yourself alone in the middle of the field 😂 Thanks for the tips😊

[@heathermacy409]

“Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves for they will never cease to be amused.” 🌱😁🌱

[@teatimetraveller]

I've found squash to be very susceptable to wind damage when they're young. It might not be an issue for some growers but in our maritime climate you really have to plan the planting around a favourable weather window.

[@munchkin5674]

You have no issues with squash bugs or squash vine borers?

[@3crowsfarm16]

I grow Carolina Roasters every year. They are the king of pumpkin pie! They are a tough sell at market, but once I got the restaurants hooked it is an easy sale!

[@thomasa5619]

You tell us all you’re a nerd And after binging your videos lately. Yes. You’re one of Us.

[@bruceallen6377]

Love your channel Jesse! Really appreciate all your wisdom and knowledge, can’t wait for your book to come in the mail! Thanks again!

[@jojow8416]

Another wonderful video that is chock full of GREAT information. Thank you and God Bless!

[@tammytamz3046]

Awesome video! Love all the different editing you added!

[@Malvision1]

Alot of information, thanks. I'm going to have to watch this a few times.

[@davek7303]

You knock it out of the park with your content - thanks for this and I subscribed!

[@pamelacorsi]

Every year I plant 3 winter squash seeds in my almost finished compost bin (the one I'am not adding more to), Last year I got 60 Honeynut squash with very little effort. This year we have had so much rain and my Honeynut are already the size of Butternut. I have less fruit but that ok because I will still have plenty for a family of four. Your videos are great!

[@RKOuttathebox]

You are the best Jesse! You come out with videos and answer my questions before I even ask them! Love your sense of humor! Thank you! Ill send you some support soon, Im over my allowance for now, don't want to get in trouble.

[@EighteenandCloudy]

Thank you so much, this was such a detailed video and packed full of good advice. I'm growing on a tiny scale in comparison to you but there's still so much I can take away and use. Thank you!

[@sandymurray3997]

Really enjoyed your talk. Your squash plants are very healthy.... Thanks

[@SonniesGardenPA]

Awesome info. Good to know about cross pollination. I want to try growing some different squash.

[@evelyny7037]

I have to say you really covered all the bases for this. I know zero about growing these things but just this year I found out how much I like them! So I’m in Texas and I have no idea whether I can make a go of it, but I’m gonna try now I have to watching your video. Thanks!

[@joannewolfe5688]

Nice explanations. Appreciate the humor, too!

[@joycee5493]

Winter luxury squash is sooooo good. It is great baked and perfect for pies… yummy!

[@deltorres2100]

Thank you ..I have them white pumpkin growing for decorating ,they sprawling but looks cool (looks so cool)

[@joanies6778]

Last year I had a strange experience growing my sugar pie pumpkins. Most of them were very small or they tried ripening too early, just bigger than a softball. 😵‍💫 However, my winter squash were prolific! Oddly, this was the exact opposite result from what happened the year before, which was prolific pumpkins and nada on the butternuts. It was also my first time growing pumpkins for the pepitas (hulless seeds). Not a huge yield per pumpkin, but oh so good. I gave the pumpkin shells to my doc who fed them to the deer in his back fields when the snows came. I'll just grow them where I don't care if they take up space this year. At least now I get why pepitas are so darned expensive!

[@tracycrider7778]

Growing kakai pumpkins for the pepitas myself this year❤ excited 😊

[@14Spot]

My favorite itinary for winter squash is with winter rye. At mid june when the rye is floweri ng we mow or roll for crop termination and then transplant or seed with corn. Some rye eventally matures and is used to broadcast the following winter rye in august. The dense squash canopy makes perfect condition for germination of the rye. We usually get frost in september so defoliation and harvest with some trampling will get some more rye going. Guess what's planted there next year? We are in zone 4b CA, so squash are actually just the extent of our frost free season. of 90-100 days with extra early varieties. We never saw any problem of storing unripe squash as long as it is cured properly. Great video Jesse love the long handle pruners, my back will thank me!

[@lukayanassali6904]

Thnx for the good education

[@rickthelian2215]

I enjoyed seeing your Market Stall😀🇦🇺

[@ryanleblanc2925]

I have an Acorn Squash in my kitchen from last year, still looks great. We live in a yurt on Vancouver Island, so if humidity helps with storage/curing, we've got that covered.

[@kristinpothast]

This was very helpful. I’m growing winter squash for the first time on a backyard trellis but have realized I really don’t know anything at all. You answered all my questions.

[@neeluephoto1338]

What a great video. Very informative !

[@holisticheritagehomestead]

Great video! Squash are a great option for survival crops. I have much to learn when it comes to curing squash. Be well.

[@gloriayoder5173]

Lots of great information!

[@ofrecentvintage]

I sowed squash seeds into 3 inch pots (my effort to prevent root disturbance) last week (June 14). The seed leaves emerged yesterday (June 19) and I was shocked to see taproots emerging from some of the pots as well! I was not expecting this and am now scrambling to pot-up these extremely young plants into, I guess, 5 inch pots? Did not anticipate this and am so worried about causing rooot damage now.

[@nodonkey4125]

pruning squash plants can be surprisingly helpful for disease and pest management - and possibly yield though I haven't really compared. Take off older leaves that are shading new growth or getting crowded near other plants. also interplanting with something quick and non aggressive like cilantro, dill, radishes, or a few cut flowers can be effective while the squash isn't covering the wide bed spacing.

[@deanablythe9394]

I enjoyed watching this video, even the bad jokes, they made me laugh, I also thought that there was a great wealth of knowledge here for someone who knows very little about growing squash or pumpkins, thank you.

[@healthandwellness1707]

Love it sense of humor !!

[@kwall1464]

Idol e to know more about veg storage. Like root cellars, temp and humidity needs. Thanks for all you do!

[@danmathers5896]

Great tips! Thanks!

[@donaldmiller8629]

My favorite squash is a heirloom squash called Lakota. Presumably from the Lakota Indians. I have had people that claimed that they did not like squash , enjoy a serving of squash and then ask for a second and third serving. As far as I know , Burpee is the only source for the Lakota squash seed.

[@that_garden_gnome]

wow answered all my questions, lots of info

[@linnaellis212]

😂 Transportation to the local ball! Great one! Love these videos, very helpful.

[@pablitoraymondo]

Definitely agree on the long-handled clippers. I nearly got RSI from cutting pumpkin stems with a pair of hand clippers, and that's no fun

[@candiwallace6605]

Thanks for sharing 👍❤😊

[@lynlull9780]

Great video, great info, Love seeing the kitty

[@tfxobrien]

Excellent. Thanks.

[@keeperofthegood]

Be interesting to see those cross pollination outcomes. A grower I used to buy from before she was 13 (freckles and grey eyes that just came to the farmers market table) always had a mystery basket of squash at a dollar each that she seed saved and she grew and she harvested and she brought to market. While the squash were always odd they never disappointed and she always got a sale from me. Now she works the family farm and sells the apples and plums the farm is known for :) But I miss those days of going to see what mystery she had for sale on those market days.

[@davek7303]

A couple years ago I grew a few butternut and a few acorn plants in the same garden. I grew some of the seeds I kept the following year but it didn't yeild anything.

[@laurenmurengezi1078]

Great info!!

[@sisselevensen8994]

Pumpkins are so mutch fun to grow, eat and they store great 😊

[@notillgrowers]

🙌

[@fourdayhomestead2839]

Sorry about my quick nap during my last viewing (it wasn't intended). Rewatching.. Great content😊

[@Sliderust3992]

USED AS TRANSPORTATION FOR THE LOCAL ROYAL BALL 😂😂😂😂

[@donaldnewportjr.7678]

I love your growing guides and would love to see one for florence fennel in the future. I'm in 6b too and am not sure what to do for fennel.

[@howmygardengrows3080]

Random pet cameos make me happy! Kitty cat!

[@alisonontheblanco]

I liked the Cinderella joke better than the kin joke 🤣

[@tinkernaut8736]

Acorn squash is my favorite but I really like all the squashes...

[@leahness3588]

Good video thanks!!❤

[@stonemountaincreations3459]

Thank you!

[@Frednecksbored]

Another great video. The info will be put to use here in Minnesota. Starting my first year with our market gardening farm. Jesse, do you mind sharing where you get your packaging materials like the bags for greens and cartons for tomatoes?

[@Lochness19]

Days to maturity isn't really an issue here in southern Canada for winter squash, I think only the arid mountain regions and far north (ie subarctic) areas would truly struggle with that, but we can't plant them as a second crop after garlic. Garlic comes out around mid-late July here, and squash needs to go in in late June at the latest if direct sown (and typically late May/early June gives better yields).

[@lambsquartersfarm]

Awesome video! I’m a seed saver and winter squash lover, my varieties are honey nut butternut, candy roaster, and sugar pumpkin. This year I’m going to trial transplants vs. Direct seeding

[@blanknoriega5726]

DS all day! transplanting sets the plants back reduces yield and takes up space and valuable time seeding them in the GH.

[@classicrocklover5615]

I like most squash. But I've fallen in love with Mooregold squash from Jung seeds! Looks like a smallish pie pumpkin. So rich and sweet you don't even need to add butter!

[@klaasNL]

Good recording limiter and song of course ❤

[@holzmann8443]

"Try to avoid growing anything that's going to be hard to explain or sell" I am growing black futsu squash. I feel your comment addresses my mistake.

[@scottbaruth9041]

I grew the white scallops small town mid USA, and the only people who bought them put them next to their pumpkins on the front porch. Here, bush beans better be green, peppers green or red, the list goes on....

[@holzmann8443]

@@scottbaruth9041 Those scallops are crazy cool! I definitely understand why you grew them. Shame they weren't easily appreciated.

[@jvin248]

I keep experimenting with planting squash and cucumber starts vs direct seeding and find the direct seeded easily catch up to any transplanted starts so I mostly just plant seeds directly -- perhaps a future video on how to get more success with early squash/cucumber/melon starts would be helpful.

[@tracycrider7778]

Pill bugs decimated my baby butternuts😢

[@ameroshqiptar17]

Where do you live/zone?

[@robertwilson9885]

Pump-kin I love it!

[@dawnteskey3259]

It never fails that my best producing pumpkin is the one that volunteers in the compost pile. I can't bring myself to pull them out, so every year I have at least one pumpkin plant growing there.

[@coolroy4300]

Pumkin squash is awesome just cook it slowly in olive oil until it softens begins to caramalize with a bit of salt and that will make it naturally sweet .

[@sleepymirin9162]

Thanks

[@notillgrowers]

Amazing! Thank you!

[@shimilangagardens1804]

Love your channel, corny jokes and all. I'm trying out the squash into garlic beds, but i'm in Vermont zone 4a (aka Siberia) so my squash is in, but the garlic ain't out yet.

[@marysuewhalen5446]

I liked the humidity joke! I feel my hair frizzing just thinking about it!

[@healthandwellness1707]

Wow!

[@oguzkagan5905]

Very nice...

[@EventHorizon34]

I think it depends on what you grow. I’ve grown several bush and short vine varieties of winter squash. With the exception of one variety (Sunshine) they produced fairly well with the bush delicata being the the most productive variety I’ve ever grown. Squash bugs just hated them for some reason and no disease issues. Soon I plan to plant Autumn frost and I’m really curious about tetsukabuto. Only issue is the space I know that they’re going to need to grow.

[@notillgrowers]

Someone asked me on the www.NoTillGrowers.com Forum about how to know when a squash like butternuts is done curing (which I totally neglected to discuss in this video). I'm not aware of a visual cue (except maybe when scratches look healed), but the best way to tell is --after a couple to a few weeks of curing--to just roast one. If it's still starchy to eat, you'll taste it. If it's sweet and delicious all the way through, then you're good to go!

[@lesliebehrens7252]

Thanks much I was wondering I’m a newbie

[@kevinbane3588]

I know you’re quite active on your farm so it just makes sense to me for you to climatize your seeds. 2 or 3 hand pollenated squash would do it.

[@coboring]

Thank you! I love pump can.....🤣

[@impossiblechallenge2122]

In which city are these farms located? This is my first time watching your videos, I made a follow up, they are amazing videos.

[@renemary4109]

This one maybe could’ve been longer with a tad more info on the different varieties. Always a thumbs up. 👍🏻

[@jeil5676]

More cat please.

[@pamelacooley6457]

😂❤️ got jokes. Thanks for this video. I want to try to grow some this summer. The bugs are so very bad in Georgia and I have honey bees so I can’t use any pesticides….any tips for pest control……

[@jvin248]

I save seeds out of habit, one of the best crosses was Acorn squash plant and fruit shape/appearance with an interior of Butternut squash. If I were not working the 'survival garden' angle (perhaps a future video idea focusing on what to grow), I'd mess with crossing that again.... Should it be "AcornNut squash"?

[@hbinfinity]

Subscribed just for the pump kin joke 😂😂😂

[@dustyflats3832]

We end up doing surgery and burying vines every year for SVB. There are 2 cycles of them here in WI and I don’t understand covering plants as the borers emerge from the ground.

[@user-uj5zq9hh9c]

Hi from France. I've got some butternut, some Pacific Giants and a few buttercups... No Idea if they might have crossed, Can i keep see's this year ? Thanks for your vidéos, they are excellent, informative clear and down to earth, give thé cat a cuddle😉

[@user-uj5zq9hh9c]

Birthplace of humidité, ha ha Come to normandy mate 😆

[@jonathann1937]

Do the vines need to be dead if you planted them in spring as well? Have luxury pie and still flowering yet many pumpkins have just hit full orange in color. Joke about the compost pile hits home, first time that happened to me. I guess those will harvest in fall. I saw other videos say the tendril will brown that is closest, or dark green stem, hollow sounding, another had completely dead plants, not sure how much longer they thought they could wait without plants.. confusing. Love your videos!

[@1son8043]

I luv squash and green bell pepper soup

[@danphillips4590]

Jesse, how do u deal with squash bugs on organic farm. Bt, neem oil and spinosad havent worked that great for me. Thx

[@JustME-ft4di]

No idea what I do wrong. I have tried growing squashes in my small U.K. garden. Most of them rot on the plants and then the leaves die. I never get more than one per plant if I’m lucky. I only have one Honeybear squash on each plant for instance. They are well fertilised and watered. They were all started early in the greenhouse.

[@genegroover3721]

I have to give you a thumbs up just for the jokes. Great job.

[@user-kc1zy1zd1m]

Not only do the stems look nice, they help the squash last longer

[@corinne7126]

I used your pumpkin joke on grandkids, they laughed

[@Bloomcycle]

Squash was a yucky vegetable when I was a kid . As an adult I love it

[@blanknoriega5726]

DS your winter squash!! Ive done side by side comparison and it makes all the difference. Higher yield 0 transplant shock. They get the same size as the transplants in a fraction of the time. Cuts back on time and saves space seeding in the greenhouse.

[@scottbaruth9041]

Same

[@sundanceharvest4069]

Do you soak your seed to sprout? Esp if you have rodent issues?

[@blanknoriega5726]

@@sundanceharvest4069 I plant 4 seeds every 18in (1 for me, 1 for the bugs, 1 for the rodents and 1 for good luck) and thin later by clipping them at ground level if needed.

[@notillgrowers]

I have no issues with DS. We did it for years until we started following the garlic. Weeds and rodents are the biggest challenges. Would definitely prime the seed. If you do your transplants right there shouldn’t be any shock, though. That’s all about greenhouse management and keeping the blocks separate.

[@blanknoriega5726]

@@notillgrowers Yeah on a smaller scale makes a lot of sense but I am currently managing a CSA farm that grows LOTS of winter squash. I'll be planting 20 200ft rows this season..! And our GH space is quite limited here so I am forced to DS. But just last year my first year here I was a bit skeptical and wanted to do side by side comparison and the DS seed just did so much better then TP. In the past Iʼve always transplanted Winter Squash but I was on a much smaller scale then. Like when I managed at Frith or ran my own small scale csa in Maine. Now managing a bit of a larger scale operation (with limited help!) I am forced to grow those staple but not so profitable crops like Winter Squash and Potatoes. Which doesnʼt matter because the members come together and meet the farms budget which opens up that space for those crops to be grown. You would be quite interested in this farm and its csa model. Very different. The farm puts out a budget and has a pledge meeting each year to meet the yearly budget. It's pretty cool. Supposedly the first CSA in the US. It's called the Temple-Wilton Community Farm. Its a biodynamic farm and It's got a dairy, creamery and vegetable operation on site working as one. This is my second year here and I am bringing a lot of my no till knowledge here to save the soil.. The elder farmer really did a lot of damage to the soil constantly tilling. With limited help (only 2 apprentices and me managing between 3 or 4 acres) I am forced to use a tractor for broad forking, shaping beds and cultivating. The previous farmer was doing about 5 acres but doing things intensively Iʼve been able to shrink down the area we grow on.

[@bobertcronos8433]

I've had pumkins last 14 months on the counter I'm trying to breed them for shelf stability any advice?