Advice on harvesting squash please.

[greenishfing]

A couple of months ago I would not have believed that I was going to get any squash to harvest this year. I started off very organised and grew 5 different sorts from seeds and in due course I planted them out. Most of them succumbed to slugs, cold and torrential rain. A kind neighbour gave me a few more to plant out. I killed a few of them as well. I then bought the last few rejects from the local garden centre. The ones that seem to have done best are the turks turban. Some of them are 9 or 10 inches in diameter. I've never grown this variety before. When should I pick them? Should I leave them until the first frost or take the largest ones off?

[Thelma Sanders]

leave them for as long as possible, but cut them off before the first frost.
They are not ripe until they change colour

[JeffUK]

As long as the plants are still alive, they're pumping energy/nutrients into the fruit, so as long as they're as healthy as they look in the photo, the longer the better!

If you do feel the need to take any off early, don't despair! they'll often ripen as soon as they've shown some sign of changing colour, obviously best to let them ripen naturally if you can.

[Paulottie]

Normally harvest for storage when first frosts kill the plant,,,apart from anything else you can find them when the leaves are gone. Cut them with a long stalk (preferably with a T shape i.e with bit of main stem) too short and this exposes a hole for infection dry constant frost free spot they can last up to a year

[Kleftiwallah]

I second the comments by Paulottie.
Another thing to keep in mind, give the squashes a quick wipe over with some much diluted bleach after harvesting. Hopefully this will kill off any spores of mould sitting on the skin.

Cheers, Tony.

[hamamelis]

Can I just bump this up to ask my own question- two of my squash plants, both Golden Hubbards, have started to look like they're dying back, even though it's probably way before the first frost- and today I noticed that the stems attaching the fruit to the main vine are yellowing, and being eaten by slugs from below. I'm assuming it's probably a good idea to take them off before the slimys do any more damage, but I thought I'd check first- can't put 'em back on, after all!

They're pretty dark orange now, with signs of paler lines on them, but the variety starts off yellow, so it's hard to tell just from colour change- they are not, however, even slightly wrinkly.

So, should they stay or should they go?

[veggiechicken]

I have no idea what the right answer is but, I would cut one and leave one! You should be right with one

[taff]

Can I just bump this up to ask my own question- two of my squash plants, both Golden Hubbards, have started to look like they're dying back, even though it's probably way before the first frost- and today I noticed that the stems attaching the fruit to the main vine are yellowing

Mine are doing that too, so I'm going to take them off tomorrow, because I won't have time until a week saturday to do it, so it's now or never before the frost gets them.

[chris]

Mine are dying - I've inspected all the fruit - harvested one on Saturday because the stem had been chewed, the stem is much shorter than I'd want, so we'll use this one up shortly

The rest will stay on for a couple more weeks, at least - my green acorns are just starting to ripen.

The bleeding white serpent is still growing and fruiting - unbelievable plant, definitely growing next year.

[Two_Sheds]

Some of mine have been brought home already (earlier than usual) because the foliage has died, and because slugs are attacking the fruits (the first time that's happened).

[Rhona]

Mr R reported last night after a strimming sesh that the pumpkins are starting turn, colour-wise. We didn't bring in any pumpkins until October last year (BNS in November), but now slightly worried about slug damage after what people have said here. All foliage still very green and lush though. Might have a check later.

[shona_b]

Some of the plants of my hasta la pasta and courgettes are turning white and crispy and dying back. I've got enough courgettes not to worry bout them but the squash look like they could do with a bit longer - any tips? The avalon, pumpkins and the mystery green squash that's taking over the plot are still green and thriving!