Today we would like to talk about Buttercup Squash, it is another good eating squash and it is harvested in the late summer. it is considered a winter squash because the squash is stored and eaten during the winter. Unlike summer squash that is harvested when the rind is tender and used immediately, Buttercup squash and other winter squash are harvested when the rind is hard. The Buttercup Squash is sweet tasting, deep green outer shell and thick, flavorful orange or deep yellow flesh. Buttercup Squash is planted in spring.
Buttercup Squash is easy to raise, but there some things you need to know.
1. Do not rush to plant buttercup squash, the plants will not grow in cold or damp soil. Always wait until danger of frost and all cold weather has past, and the ground has warmed up.
2. Always work up your soil well before planting. Add 3 to 4 inches of manure or compost, and work up your soil well, mixing it all through your soil.
3. Plant the buttercup squash in full sun only, never plant in a shaded area. ( They must have full sun ).
4. You can plant in rows or hills, in rows use a garden hoe to make rows 6 to 10 feet apart, then plant the seed in the row 2 to 4 seeds, allowing 3 to 4 feet between each cluster of seeds. If you wish to plant in hills, use your hoe or rake to make shallow hill 4 to 5 feet apart, then plant 4 to 5 seeds evenly spaced in each hill. Planting depth 1"-inch under the soil. When the seedlings have two sets of leaves, thin the buttercup squash plants to one plant per cluster in rows, or 2 to 3 plants per hill.
5. Water the buttercup squash after planting, and keep the soil moist for 3 weeks. Never let your soil dry completely out, if you get rain that will help, but if there is no rain and the summer is hot and dry, you may have to water every 3 to 4 days, let your soil dry out a little before watering again. Feed buttercup squash about three weeks after blooms appear. Apply a general-purpose fertilizer around the plants, then hoe the fertilizer into the soil. Water immediately after feeding to prevent the fertilizer from burning the roots. Hoe the squash patch frequently to keep weeds out. You can also layer with mulch to help keep the weeds out and it will help save on water by keeping the soil moist.
6. Fruit Size: 3 to 5 pounds.
7. Harvest: 75 to 110 days or more.
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