How to Grow, Cure and Store Amazing Squash | What Varieties I Grow

Today I want to share with you everything I've learned about growing squash. Even if you're growing in a short season like I am you can still grow beautiful squash!
The pumpkin was 107lbs!
My favourite Squash www.littlemountainranch.com/p...
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[@LittleMountainRanch]

In this video I share my favourite squash, one of them being the Gete Okosomin. I mistakenly showed you a Georgia Candy Roaster instead. The Gete looks similar but is more orange when fully ripe. I apologize for that.

[@dawngrimmius4971]

Is that Candy Roaster squash also called a banana squash? And can you can a banana squash?

[@LittleMountainRanch]

Anyone have any guesses on the size of the pumpkin? - - - - - - - 107lbs! Definitely our largest ever! Hope you have a wonderful day!

[@staceyjones3261]

112 pounds

[@theheritagehousesc]

About couple hundred pounds I’m assuming 😂

[@MVbailegardens]

120 pounds

[@scotthargraves576]

I know this an older post but I’d appreciate info on making the larger paper pot you mention.

[@avraamavramopoulos5567]

It will be very nice of you to advise us on how to actually cultivate squash, especially how to prune , pinch it for maximum and better production. Thank you the work of making canned fodds is amazing.

[@lblake5653]

Nice harvest. Maple is a sweetie.

[@JoeSyxpack]

I fenced off a 24x16 foot section of my property this year to start a garden and figured that was plenty of space for everything I wanted to grow. Turns out it doesn't take very many squash plants to completely eat up that space. Got lots of squash and the beans managed pretty well, but the cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, melons, etc were all overwhelmed. Looks like next year I need to put squash somewhere else.

[@thebernshow8425]

A friend told me to create an arbor and grow your squash on that. He showed me pictures and the tendrils wrapped around the arbor and the plant just took off. The squash were beautiful and grew quite nicely. I am going to try that this next season.

[@Jeza697]

Growing in New Zealand’s South Island thanks for the tip it’s getting close to harvest and some great advice for a first year grower, I have 19 butternuts and stoked with there progress and looking to add to the family next year😊

[@DebRoo11]

You can prune your vines down at the grow tip to leave only a few squash per plant. This is how I need to do it in my smaller garden. I dont need 20 squash, but I do appreciate the large 3-4 per plant

[@vegemitegirl1971]

In Australia we call them all pumpkins. As you can imagine we have thoroughly different growing environment, with summer days occasionally hitting 50°c and higher. I plant my pumpkins along dripper irrigation lines. You should see my garden on days over 40°. I go out early in the morning and throw as many bedding sheets as I can over the more sensitive plants and then run the irrigation system to wet the sheets.

[@cherylbertolini3140]

Great video, I say the pumpkin. weighs 125. butter baby butternut squash from Johnny seed is ready in 50-55 days.

[@LittleMountainRanch]

107lbs, which is pretty big for us. I’ll shooting for even bigger next year! 😁

[@ThatBritishHomestead]

we eat a LOT of pumpkins and squash, its a great way to have fresh veggies in winter lol :) I love them but my OH hates squash he makes me laugh as he never ever notices them.

[@iwantcheesypuffs]

My acorn and butternut squash easily last 4-6 months in my basement storage. I think they taste even better after they have cured in storage a couple months. Hubbard squash doesn't store as well (2-3 months) but for doing "stuffed pumpkin" cooking in your oven or open fire pit -- it's one of the best.

[@faithfifield7278]

I grew 1 plant of butternut squash this year. It gave me 9 nice squash with 3 more on the vine still. Good to know that I have to I can pick and the will finish ripening inside by a window. The others are now all currently being stored under my couch. I live in a mobile home so growing and storage space are both limited. That one plant was grown in a xlg pot and for 2 months I checked every leaf daily for squash bugs/eggs.

[@LittleMountainRanch]

That’s wonderful! You really can grow food almost anywhere!

[@theUcane]

wow do your eyes really sparkle in this video!!! wow!

[@ajb.822]

Hi. Thanks for the vlog, very well done :) ! Just wanted to mention that I - kinda grew up with this I guess- usually don't have the majority of my squash ripe enough in time for our 1st frost, so, I cover it all with blankets and tarps etc. . Usually works fine. Ideally one uses upturned buckets or things to help keep it off the plants a lil better, esp. if a definite hard frost may occur, as otherwise it may still freeze whatever's touching the covers, with the wetness of the dew making it transfer I think. Since we'd often have even several weeks of good weather after a frost or 2, this really helps me get a lot more ripe ones. I'm in West Central Wisconsin, zone 5a actually now I think, moved to different rental last year to be closer to hubby's job, nearer the St. Croix river valley and it's supposedly a warmer zone here and it did seem great last fall ! I grew up one county east tho, sorta on a line between zone 4a & 4b, but also on a ridge-top. Much better than the valleys for avoiding early frosts !

[@user-my5rz1mr5q]

How many children do you have in your lovely family? Love your channel.

[@danoneill2846]

Cube & boil VS split in 1/2 & bake . I only split in 1/2 & bake , the same way I would if I just wanted to cook it as a side dish ( mashed ) . So much more easy , no pealing , just scoop out the cooked meat & mash .

[@LittleMountainRanch]

100% on team split and bake.

[@katechapman3850]

Wonderful info! Thanks 😊

[@treehouse3240]

Thankyou for all the information on the squash. 1st time growing butternut, love them. Now I know how to cure the ones that are still a little green. Great Video.

[@suzannemartin1202]

The dog!!!😁 reminds me of my dog getting sprayed by skunks 😮yuck!

[@gardeningperth]

The sacrifices your dog does :)

[@jonyatravisa589]

Thank you for sharing

[@pthrelkeld090]

Tip: if you wait until the vine is completely dead and turned to yellow and dry, they store substantially longer

[@LittleMountainRanch]

We can’t do that here because once the frost hits the surface of the squash they don’t store well. We get early frosts here.

[@richardhatfield915]

Very good thank you 😊

[@sylviabradley7355]

What a great harvest💥

[@MrScoresby]

This old guy is not a fan of squash but my sisters are as was my mom. So we grew a lot at home in Penticton but never even close to your harvest. Well done! the old guy Bert

[@LittleMountainRanch]

Thank you, dear friend.

[@jessamineward5833]

Wow! Your squash skills are next level.

[@BiNumLi]

Super helpful. Thank you.

[@jennamacapagal2314]

So satisfying thank you! 💚

[@jimlee5626]

Great review. Thanks

[@jamesbrown8718]

That was one massive pumpkin!! I know the kiddos were excited about the size of it, you had a great growing season on your squash.

[@LittleMountainRanch]

Thanks!

[@hitchhikerfromanothergalaxy]

Love your Great Pyrenees photo bombing your video...I have a wonderful Great Pyrenees too and totally understand! They are the best dogs ever!

[@bghbgh6643]

I just found your videos on KZbin and I love your web site. Do you have recipes for winter squash? I was watching today and I believe you had a recipes for carnival squash dough for a pie. Please share your recipes and especially the squash dough recipes. Thank you for sharing your experiences growing and using squash.

[@AAHomeGardening]

Wow Massive harvest

[@bettinah.7429]

That was a great squash commentary. I love squash! That is quite an awesome harvest Chelsea!

[@MrGiggy4u]

Wonderful info, Thank you for sharing . Blessings ! 😊

[@jonigee1305]

Thank you . Loved the video

[@AAHomeGardening]

Really informative Thanks

[@happyg8059]

*_VERY GOOD HARVSET, BLESS_*

[@daintyflygirl4va]

That's one hugex2 pumpkin

[@akiglesias]

Thanks! Loved watching you go from seed to harvest. Always rooting for your harvest and grateful for all of the information that you share🥰 Be well and happy preserving!😊

[@charlessoukup1111]

Wow loaded up on my fav, butternut!!

[@herbhouston5378]

Great video! I just found you, so this is a good thing.

[@jessicaproulx7228]

Looking forward to squash recipes:))

[@joannewilson6847]

Well done and congratulations on growing so many different varieties of pumpkins. Xxx

[@carolynmoody9460]

Blessings ❣️

[@superkidsnd2458]

Such a pleasure to watch it, its like a autumn jewels 🎃

[@TheOldSwedesFarm]

Great harvest! We've got an incredibly long season and our squash are just going nuts! Great video! Cheers from Minnesota!

[@MoniqueAduSustainableLiving]

Thank you for this video. It was very helpful to see all the different kinds of squash you grew and harvested. Very inspiring. Thank you for all you do.

[@theheritagehousesc]

They are all so beautiful! For the first time I grew butternut squash this year and I am hooked. I want to grow more varieties of squash next year. Thank you for this great video. I got a better understanding about squash. Can’t wait to put more on the ground!

[@LittleMountainRanch]

Yay, another squash fan to add to the team!

[@shainasshenanigans4770]

I was encouraged by you to grow squash this year! I live in Northern Manitoba (zone 1b) and I had a GREAT HARVEST thanks to your tips! So thank you!

[@LittleMountainRanch]

That is awesome!

[@danamama6766]

Absolutely wonderful!! I so love squash as well. And wowsa that is one heavy pumpkin can hardly wait to see that one carved. hugs

[@lynsmith2698]

Wow what a harvest. I want to try pumpkin next year once our forever garden is completed. Glad you got your harvest in before the frost. It certainly starting to look and feel like fall. Thanks Chelsea, great video

[@stevewolfe9832]

You seem to be located a bit further north than I am situated her in the Dallas area, but appreciated finding your channel.

[@LifefromAshes001]

This was great to watch 😄 loved seeing your squash stash lol Awesome ☕🍁💕😊 luv from Ontario Canada xoxo zone 5a

[@mrs.cindynipper]

A group I'm in on Facebook shared this video and the timing couldn't be more perfect! I'm in zone 5a in Idaho, USA and we're expecting frost in a day or two. I harvested 25 pumpkins. Only six I planted, they are Sugar Pie pumpkins because I LOVE making pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving and Christmas! The others were volunteers that grew in my compost pile! The are great shape and Come in greenish white, a pale yellow and a perfect pumpkin orange. I've cooked one whole in the oven already for dog treats, but had no idea how to store them or cure them. Thank you for your insight! Now I only need recipes!

[@LittleMountainRanch]

You’re welcome!😊

[@waykeeperfarmandnerdery]

I love this video and all of the squash you grew! We ended up with hundreds of squash on our farm this year, because we fed some to our sheep during the winter. Then lo and behold, we got a ton of volunteer pumpkin and squash plants!

[@dianneb208]

Your squash harvest is amazing - so many beautiful varieties. I just came in from harvesting our pumpkins and squash. Last night was 1 degree at the airport (5 at home) and frost is possible tonight. We grew the peanut pumpkin a few years ago and loved it! We like to try new varieties as well. Enjoy your winter squash meals.

[@miketharp3264]

I hope you will let us see the pumpkin after the kids carve it. It would be a treat for Halloween. Also, how are your bees doing. At one point you lost them entirely I think I remember, but you have referred to them since then and I wondered did you re-start them from a nuc? Have you rendered honey? That would be interesting to see. Finally, thank goodness you have Kate. What a great help she is to you.

[@LittleMountainRanch]

I caught two swarms this summer that are doing awesome! I did buy a nuc but it’s not doing well. I lost the queen early in and wasn’t able to request until mid summer.

[@bettylongshore9594]

Beautiful squash! They are usually very rewarding and addicting!!!!!! We love them since they can be prepared in so many ways!!!!!!!

[@janedunphy8768]

Thank you ! That was the best info on squash growing yet.

[@LittleMountainRanch]

My pleasure!😊

[@SAtoUSAgirl]

Thank you! A beautiful, comprehensive video. I'm really looking forward to the taste testing!

[@LittleMountainRanch]

Thank you so much!

[@cryssbou7864]

If you want a squash that is similiar to buttercup but has a better storage length SWEET MAMA is awesome .. I think I have some spare seeds, I'll pack them up and send them to you and you can try them next season

[@LittleMountainRanch]

That would be awesome!😊

[@cackl740]

Peanut pumpkins are my all time favorites. I love them for eating, making puree and PIES

[@JubeeBijou]

I'm so glad I found this vid. I'm a first time winter squash grower. Are you familiar with Cushaw? I got a wonderful harvest this season. I will clean them with a vinegar / water mixture as you suggested. I'm in northeast TN, so I'm concerned about making sure where I store them is cool and dry. I've also got Seminole, Mrs. Amerson and Waltham. I tried sugar pumpkin but they failed, never got one. I grew them in a 15 gallon grow bucket.

[@danoneill2846]

The 3 sisters

[@smallspaceswithGloria]

I just love your channel 😊 I direct sowed my squash this year around may17 and I fertilized (which helped tremendously because they were yellow ) but they are in containers and I elivated them but I had to move to ground and they took off, I’m zone 6b so I’m going to take your tip next year and paper pot in march inside. Your harvest is the best one I’ve seen yet (cauliflower amazing, cabbage amazing, ) what zone are you and I’ll check to , beautiful bountiful garden 😊

[@ElderandOakFarm]

I had to forfeit growing Squash this year as this is only our 2nd growing season at our new home & we haven't built all of our raised beds or prepped all of the in ground gardens yet. But hoping by next year I will have the Squash & pumpkin beds ready!

[@nruegner]

One of our favorite squash is the Delicata. Sweet and taste like it is loaded with butter. They are small for a big family, but you can't go wrong with them. It is the one on number 5 in the squash description. Thanks for sharing.

[@harleysweet1503]

Thanks for the info:) squash queen ! Can't wait for the soup recipe:)

[@LittleMountainRanch]

I’m going to have a squash recipe video next week!🙂

[@sharontracy2151]

Don’t know how I came to your channel but I’m so glad I did. Thoroughly enjoying. PS I love Veseys in PEI and this year also found Revival Seeds, Nova Scotia. Both have great germination rates. Got my snap and grow greenhouse from @Vesey’s and really enjoyed it

[@LittleMountainRanch]

Welcome fellow Canadian!😊

[@tomst9417]

I grew lots of Buttercup squash and a pumpkin called Winter Luxury. Curing them now and will give some away and likely can the rest and perhaps save a few for short term storage.

[@missamy1]

Thanks for sharing such a great video! I would love some recipes for how you use each of these different types. Thanks again!

[@LittleMountainRanch]

I’m on it!🙂

[@johnnymayo8534]

Wow...that's a lot of squash!! And a great tutorial on squash growing/harvesting/storage!! I now know all the things I did wrong this year!! lol

[@LittleMountainRanch]

Lol I feel you. It took a few years to work out the kinks.

[@sherry2836]

Wow, nice harvest! I only really eat acorn squash but I love the knucklehead pumpkins! I put a couple seeds in a huge pot, one plant came up, one flower pollinated, and only one pumpkin grew! I babied that thing all summer and set that warty baby out like a proud mama for Halloween. Got lots of comments from neighbors. I def want to grow that peanut pumpkin. What a beauty! Thanks for all your great info.

[@LittleMountainRanch]

My pleasure!!! 😊

[@dafucitisAi]

Wow, so many varieties! How do you deal with cross-pollination?

[@BioGartenReich]

Great harvest! Great video! We here over in Germany also had the greatest pumpkin harvest ever. It seems to be a pumpkin year :) We had lot`s of rain so they are growing beautifully. Thanke you for sharing all of your great knowledge! Greetings from Germany

[@LittleMountainRanch]

Greetings from Canada!😊

[@seedyhollow]

I grew Dill's Atlantic Giant too this year I have about 4 growing and the zone is 3 I have been covering often at night as it has been close to freezing here also. Our average frost date is September 9 but we have been lucky to have had a bit of a heat wave in NW Ontario. Woot woot! We had terrible drought conditions all through from your way through the prairies and most of Ontario as well. Tough for all things that love water. The squash have done well considering. I watered all through June July and August 2 x / day. My cucumbers just started producing a bit but very sparce. Brassicas were a challenge with the +40 C days most days. Tomatoes were very very productive as were the beans and peppers. Peas done well. So I have Canadian Yellow Crook Neck Squash, Butternut Squash, Buttercup Squash all a mass of tangled tendrils sprawled on a black felt ground cover. Eggplants with finally some fruit starting ( too late ) and Bittermelons ( small fruits coming they are about 4") Bakercreek Seeds. My biggest Dill's is about 1/2 the size of yours. Still covering and trying to extend the season as long as possible.

[@ajdavis3798]

I was going to guess around 80 lbs, wow that’s a lot of pumpkin! Great video. My mom planted some acorn squash for me. We had our first one for supper last night😋

[@LittleMountainRanch]

That is awesome!

[@williamsmith9815]

Wonderful video..do you have any cross pollination issues growing different squash around the same time?

[@AliciasInTheKitchen]

Your Gete Okosomin looks an awful lot like the N. Georgia Candy Roasters that I grow here in the southern US (Tennessee), especially with that blue green tip. The way you described their texture and flavor is also very similar.

[@LittleMountainRanch]

Thank you so much for pointing that out. You are absolutely right! I’ve added a pinned comment to explain that.

[@AliciasInTheKitchen]

@@LittleMountainRanch You are welcome. I wasn't sure if they were the same thing, but they sure looked the same!

[@stevenr2789]

Hello very new to ur channel. I grew or am growing butter nut squash for the first time this year and I was just wondering when to know when to pick or harvest a squash if it’s ready from the vine or do I cut it off at a certain point and wait like seven days to eat it. Ty

[@marygrabill7127]

When I saw zone 3B, I figured you were in Canada. Enjoyed your video (from Leamington, Ontario) . This is our first year growing squash; we tried delicata, sweet dumpling and honeynut. The squirrels made off with the only (3) buttercups we had. Cheers!

[@jasminjenkins123]

It's my first time growing butternut squash. I'm so excited to see my results. I'm in Toronto, Ontario. Did you plant in the ground or keep in large pots? Which is best and is either ok?? I have a groundhog living under my deck and our yards are squirrel haven. I add wind chimes to keep the vermin away. Anyone have any ideas how else to keep them away?

[@wiltinrose37]

I grew Galeux d'Eysines this year also. I only had one squash make it. Fought squash vine borers all summer. It's beautiful and I can't wait to taste it. Will definitely grow again next year!

[@LittleMountainRanch]

Just taste tested it and it's trill excellent!

[@johannecannon7363]

Love your channel! I agree, squash is one of my favorite vegetables. Do you have any suggestions for dealing with squash vine borers? Thank you and have a great day!

[@LittleMountainRanch]

Thank you so much! I wish I could help, but we don’t have many squash pests up here. Our biggest challenge is the short season.

[@oldethymecottage2985]

Next to tomatoes, I love growing pumpkins. Cinderella is our favourite as well. What was the variety of the white "warty" pumpkin?

[@jacquelinelafay647]

Gorgeous squashes! My question is, how do you plant so many different varieties without crossing? Can I plant butternut and Gete Okosomin near each other?

[@susanyoung2930]

Very informative video! Have you ever grown Orangetti spaghetti squash? It is now my favourite spaghetti squash! Matures into a bright orange colour. Do your squash ever cross pollinate?

[@brendacarroll498]

The galuex d eysine is my favorite squash to grow very meaty and great for soup and baking.

[@LittleMountainRanch]

And such a pretty squash!

[@stacygillard5746]

I have one spaghetti squash (I think) that appeared in my garden this year. I don't know how it got there but it produced a single squash that is nearly ripe. I'll try to grow more next year from the seeds.

[@debrakasadine647]

Thank you for the information! How do you keep squash bore worms n bugs off your squash??

[@LittleMountainRanch]

Thankfully we don’t have squash bugs up here.

[@56ggn]

I love squash, but my husband doesn't so I would like to grow smaller squashes, that I can eat in a few sittings, saving a couple larger ones for when others join us for a meal. I love spaghetti squash, and butternut. I am not familiar with the rest, but they are all beautiful. Thank you for sharing this, and I am looking forward to checking out your recipes for them.

[@rodney73991]

butternut cut hafe cooked mashed butter tell pottoes Neve dirfrance. you also make into punkine pies. unless realize color punkin pies suppose be he never either. when tast good easer cut cubs add stir friey. they might squash in stire fry buy. I like spegette squash use home made spegette recipe got you tub. good foodie . type should find same you tub vedio I found. it garlic, onions , tomatoes , Basile , oregano in it . cooked mushrooms cooked water on pan when water gone add little olive oil to mushrooms add spegette squash.

[@Shodeen1]

Thank you for the good info. How you deal with squash bug? I have really hard tlme with squash bug.

[@LittleMountainRanch]

We don’t have them, thankfully.

[@jaykay643]

My butternut squash had small scabs/warts on them this year...none last yr. Not sure if its because of all the rain we had in summer?

[@Howtofarmandgarden]

Great job with your squash. I have found that we have similar experiences. Do you ever save your seeds? I like crossing the varietals, keeping the seeds and tasting the results. I especially like the spaghetti pumpkin cross. Mmmmm.

[@LittleMountainRanch]

Not really although I always have a few interesting ones come up in the pigpen.

[@susancampbell7279]

Wow

[@rodnawilliams9398]

thank you for your informative videos .. i am learning alot and would absolutely love to know if you happen to sell your seeds please and thank you so much

[@LittleMountainRanch]

Thank you so much! No, I don’t sell seeds, but West Coast seeds carries most of what I grow.

[@avraamavramopoulos5567]

Hello there, please advise us how to actually plant the seeds, do we put them in water first how many hours and then we directly put them in the groud standing up or flat or it does not matter. etc thank you

[@lynicefirey5008]

I keep jumping the gun about planting them out. This year we had a June 1 frost that wiped them out. Did the same last year, I was so sure I was in the clear. I only get 90 days growing season here, so there is no chance for redemption after that. But not much wiggle room in planting time either. I'm determined though! Love watching your videos, learn great things all the time

[@LittleMountainRanch]

I’m glad! Thank you for watching and sorry about the frost… I feel ya!

[@katiecallies9994]

Hello! What is the beautiful pink flower you catch a glimpse of at 3:51 of your video? PS love you videos and relatable climate/zone!

[@LittleMountainRanch]

Zinnias!!! My absolute favourite flower!

[@BearsEatBeetz]

Do you have any information on picking or ensuring the squash is sweet? We tried the sweet dumpling squash a few weeks ago and it was amazing. Cooked up on this week… yuck! Idk they looked the same… not sure id there is a trick?

[@1makeka]

Hi Chelsea, I have a question. I planted winter squashes last year. 6 Plants were great, producing large leaves and male and female blossoms. BUT worms attack them and kill them all. Is there a way I could protect them or is there a squash that is bug resistant that I could plant? Im in zone 7. and next month I must get started I'll appreciate your help. Thanks, darling.