Strategies for Winter Squash Success (Plus 3 Top Varieties I Always Grow)

[@j.reneewhite915]

I live about 20 minutes south of you and share the love of growing and eating squash. I have less space to grow in and a few other big challenges to grow a garden in my yard. I have found that if I make a large pot out of newspaper then my squash and melons don't go through transplant shock because I bury them in the pot or remove the bottom paper only before planting. It also solves most of the slug issues which are extreme in my area because I can grow them indoors past the new growth stage so the slugs no longer want to eat them. Lastly this solves the problem of not having a long enough season to plant seed in the ground when it actually warms up. My great grandfather did have 5 acres in this area to grow his melons and squash on and I remember as a young child we would go help them plant it up at the end of April each year. He used hot caps and it worked very well for him. I take the time to save the seed because I have purchased seed pkts from reputable sellers that had cross pollinated and I didn't enjoy the surprises. I also like the idea that saving seed each year might help the plant acclimate to my growing conditions and possibly produce a more healthy vigorous plant each year. BTW You are a good teacher and truly have an analytical gifting.

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

CORRECTION: It was brought to my attention that the USDA changed their canning practices around Pumpkin Butter. They NO LONGER APPROVE pressure canning pumpkin butter. If you make Pumpkin Butter, do like I do and freeze it! It freezes great! It's always a good idea to check the updated canning procedures every year. I am glad someone caught my error! You can find safe canning procedures here: nchfp.uga.edu/publications/publications_usda.html

[@RocketPipeTV]

11:05 why would you let the government tell you what you are allowed to do and not to do if it works?

[@Americancadet]

I have become obsessed with winter squash😊😊

[@deborahcoyle7612]

Delicata is divine! Last year was my first year growing squash successfully. Yes please keep recommending great reads.

[@yourvoicecanbeat]

Thank you! Best winter squash video I could find and I found that pdf super helpful. Did not realize acid effects water bath viability.

[@alyssathiesen7594]

Thank you so much for recommending your book resources! I would love to see a video on your favorite books, podcasts, fellow KZbinrs, etc.! :)

[@3musketeershomestead62]

Burgess Buttercup is a delight!!

[@PDXGardenHome]

Fantastic video. Had no idea germination pushes seeds up. I've seen It, but didn't consider the reason. Love winter squash too!

[@claudiakoprowski8925]

EXCELLENT information. Thank you!

[@chiomascharm4596]

This was so helpful! I will definitely have to try these squash varieties. Thanks for sharing 💜

[@Mbilia]

I'm 100% gonna try starting seeds in ground in late May this year. I transplanted some butternut squash seedlings I started indoors and they are looking soooo sad. So preparing to start over lol. Also going to try sweet meat for the first time this year

[@HCRigden]

Thanks for the great tips and book recommendations!

[@maplenook]

I’ve had the best luck with winter squash growing in compost pile and hugel beds. Terrible luck in a regular bed.

[@alhaah777]

Thank you.

[@permiebird937]

We start our squash seeds in 4" pots made of dried pressed aged manure, or paper. That way we can plant without disturbing roots, and the pot becomes organic matter for the soil. I'm about to roast a Sweet Meat to teach my week old ducklings to eat squash. Carol Deppe feeds squash to her ducks. I didn't do it with first 2 hatchings, but am trying it this time.

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

I have used paper pots in the past, thank you for reminding us we can use compostable pots to keep the roots undamaged! I totally forget to mention that. I tend to use plastic ones bc it's what I have around the shed. Yeah, my ducks love roasted squash AND roasted potatoes. Over the years, they've been fed the ones I didn't like or grew for decoration.

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

they like pumpkin even better if you toss in some oats for a treat.

[@johnjoseph7490]

This was vey helpful! Do you end up thinning the squash plants when you plant more than one in the pot? When you direct sow do you plant multiple seeds in a small area or do those need to be thinned? I guess I am asking about how you space each plant.

[@colbywilliams7595]

Thanks for this video. I just planted squash for the first time yesterday. Do you have a video about how to properly cure squash?

[@marygrott8095]

Burgess Buttercup is better than delicata?? Wow. I have not tried that one, but as of last fall, delicata squash is my favorite.

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

I definitely like it better! Many winter nights, a quarter of a Burgess buttercup roasted and served with plum butter or salsa is the main part of my dinner. It keeps for many months longer than delicata!

[@marygrabill7127]

What variety of delicata are you referring to please? The one they also called sweet potato?

[@VIRGINIAB0RNANDBRED]

Wait a sec... you need to pollinate the flowers to harvest the seeds? I didn't realize that. We kept pumpkin and butternut seeds, will they not fruit? The bees went wild throughout our garden, So hopefully they did the job for us?

[@lightningboltz333]

Wish I can get some sweet meat seeds from you. Great video, an info!

[@heathermulligan9389]

Surprised you mentioned you need to pressure can pumpkin but then you mentioned pumpkin butter can be pressure canned. Pumpkin butter has no tested safe recipe that I know of. If you have a tested recipe please share the source I would love to know if recommendations have changed.

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

Hm I will look into it! I always freeze my pumpkin butter but years ago (2010?) I took an extension canning class and they said pumpkin purée and butter can be pressure canned. I was operating under the assumption that is still accurate but will double check! Thank you!

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

Oh! I just looked it up. They changed the rules in 2010 to no longer recommend pressure canning it. I had no idea it had changed. Thank you for bringing that to my attention! I will correct it in the description and pin a comment. Appreciate it! I definitely want folks to be safe.

[@maryvance7384]

What feed stores do you go to in PDX?

[@acpimp75]

You are talking more about pumpkins, than squash

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

Nope. I am talking about winter squash. I don’t actually grow more than one Friday of pumpkin the rest are winter squash, Cucurbita maxima.

[@acpimp75]

@@ParkrosePermaculture ok

[@wipeoutxl21]

You look like you have slimmed down a bit :) Good advice!

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

I love growing a diversity of varieties, but sometimes there is a point of diminishing returns one can reach and it's good to let the pendulum swing back to the middle :)

[@wipeoutxl21]

@@ParkrosePermaculture I'm going to try these varieties next year if I can find them.