How To Tell When Acorn Squash Is Ripe
About the Author: Jeremy Starke
I've been growing vegetables since I was 12 — over 30 years in the dirt. I share what actually works in my own Zone 6b garden, and what I wish someone had told me when I started.
Zone 6b · North Carolina · Gardening since age 12Back in the days when I was still a newbie in gardening, I decided to plant squash for the first time.
I did not know when mine was ripe.
Through trial and error and lots of research, I can say I've cracked the code on how to tell when an acorn squash is ripe.
You will no doubt learn from all my mistakes to ensure you pick it at the right time.
When Are Acorn Squash Ripe To Pick?
Planting season is now over and done with and after grooming it for so long, it's now time for the harvesting of your tasty vegetable.
But you're not sure how to tell when if your ribbed acorn squash is ripe.
Acorn Squash is ripe enough to pick in about 75-90 days if it has at least 6 hours of sun per day. It may take another 1-2 weeks longer if gets less than 6-7 hours of sunlight.
It is of the utmost importance that you only harvest it after you've thoroughly examined it because harvesting an unripe one would produce a fruit that is completely bland in taste.
There are several ways to on how to tell when it is ready to harvest.
Color
One of the easiest ways of telling when it is ripe is through the color.
A ripe one turns dark green and the part of the squash that has been in contact with the ground would have a notable yellow patch.
An unripe one has a shiny skin appearance while a ripe winter squash would have more of a dull look to it.
Skin Texture
Skin texture or squash fruit texture is also a great tell to determine when it is ripe.
The skin texture of an immature acorn squash would be soft but the skin or rind of a nice and ripe one would be hard.
A fun way to test for an unripe acorn squash is by using your fingernail to try and make a mark on the squash skin.
If you find it difficult to make a noticeable mark in the tough skin, then the fruit is ripe.
Stem
If your acorn squash is ripe, you'll find that some inches of stem connected to the fruit will become brown and withered. Usually it is the last inch of stem that is connected to the fruit.
That's how you'll know it's harvesting time for this variety.
Time
On average, it takes acorn squash about 75-100 days to get ripe. This is after it has past the seedling transplant stage. You can tack on another week or 2 if you want to calculate growing it from seed.
If all else fails, you can just set a reminder on your calendar 75-100 days or roughly 3 months after you've planted your squash seeds. The seed package usually has this same time period to help in case you forget.
Best Way To Harvest Acorn Squash
When harvesting acorn squash, you should try not to allow the excitement get to you.
With a steady hand, you're going to cut at least 5cm of the vine/stem while it is still connected to it.
This technique would help ensure that it retains moisture.
An extra tip you should take note of is, if you have no intention of eating yours immediately, then the best thing to do is to give it time to harden some more by leaving it attached to the vine.
However, it is prone to frost so make sure to harvest your acorn squash before heavy frost fully sets in your location.
Final Thoughts
In this article, you got to learn everything you needed to know about harvesting and storing it. You probably cant wait for harvest season to arrive so that you can practice all that you have learned.
Harvesting it might have seemed like a daunting task at the beginning. Hopefully your fears have been put to rest and you have enough information to tackle this task head on.
Let us know how harvesting and storing your squash goes in the comment section.
Meet Jeremy Starke
I've been growing vegetables since I was 12 — over 30 years in the dirt. I share what actually works in my own Zone 6b garden, and what I wish someone had told me when I started.
Zone 6b · North Carolina · Gardening since age 12 Read My Story →Frequently Asked Questions
Will acorn squash ripen after being picked?
If it is picked prematurely, there is absolutely no chance of it getting ripe while it is being stored no matter how long you wait. This is why it is so important to follow the guidelines and wait for the fruit to be ripe before picking.
Is an acorn squash still good when it turns orange?
As long as there are no soft spots on the skin or body of it, then it is probably going to still be good even though it is orange color. The presence of molds on the flesh of the squash is also a strong indicator. If there is no mold, then your squash is good.
Is Acorn Squash supposed to be hard?
A ripe squash is supposed to be hard and the harder it gets the more ripe it becomes The presence of a soft spot is a good indicator that it has already gone bad.
