How to Care for Acorn Squash
- 1). Find a location outdoors that receives full sunlight. The soil must remain well drained and fertile. Soil with a pH level between 5.8 and 6.8 and soil high in organic matter work best for winter squash. Add up to 4 inches of compost to enrich the soil.
- 2). Plant acorn squash seedlings or seeds after the threat of frost passes completely. Frost can injure acorn squash seedlings. Seedlings may be purchased from a local nursery or started indoors six to eight weeks before the frost ends.
- 3). Plant the acorn squash seeds 1 inch deep into the ground in hills that are 12 inches long and 3 to 4 inches tall. Each hill can contain four or five seeds and the hills should be spaced five to six feet apart. Thin the seedlings to the two or three best acorn squash plants in each hill. When planting established acorn squash seedlings in hills, plant two seedlings in each hill and space the plants 6 inches apart. Space all the seedlings so that they remain 7 to 12 feet apart in rows so that the vines can spread.
- 4). Water the acorn squash with drip irrigation. Drip irrigation means to use a dripper, valves or pipes to slowly drip the water to the roots of the plants. This type of watering keeps the ground moist and prevents water from sitting on the foliage. Water the squash weekly with 1 inch of water for best results.
- 5). Remove weeds from the soil when you notice them. The weeds compete with the acorn squash and steal most of the nutrients. The addition of a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch helps keep the weeds away.
- 6). Inspect the acorn squash for harvest in the late summer or early fall. The squash usually reaches maturity around August or September. The acorn squash will appear deep green and glossy once it ripens. The yellow spot where the squash sits on the ground will turn orange.
- 7). Remove the acorn squash from the vine by cutting it off with a sharp knife. Leave at least 2 inches of the vine on the squash.
- 8). Store the squash in a dry location in a single layer. Store acorn squash in a temperature range between 50 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
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