Spaghetti Squash Recipes 2 of 3 ( Recipe )

              Hello and welcome back here today with us Ken and Marilou on Garden The Easy Way.        

              Today we would like to share with you all some delicious Spaghetti Squash Recipes.  There are so many ways to prepare Spaghetti Squash.  You can boil it, bake it, or fry it.  We would like to start out with the most popular Spaghetti Squash Recipe for kids and a lot of adults.  It is so quick and easy, but very delicious.

              1.  Boil entire fruit about 20 minutes, open and remove seeds.  Fluff flesh out of shell with a fork for spaghetti-like appearance.  Serve with spaghetti sauce or season to taste.                                                  

              2.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Cut the squash in half (horizontally) and scrape the seeds.  Place the squash, flesh side down, in a shallow roasting pan.  Fill the pan with about 1 cup of water.  Roast the squash for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until the squashes are soft.  Remove the squashes from the oven and cool.  Using a fork, remove the flesh, the flesh will resemble curly noodles like spaghetti.                              

              There are 40 recipes on Spaghetti Squash at www.foodnetwork.com.            

              Thank you all for being with us today on Garden The Easy Way, we hope you all enjoy the two recipes, we will be back tomorrow with two more delicious recipes on Spaghetti Squash.  Until then Good Gardening Always Ken & Marilou.

Spaghetti Squash ( How To Grow )

               Good day to you all and welcome back here today with us, Ken and Marilou on Garden The Easy Way.  

               Today we would like to talk about another popular squash, the name is Spaghetti Squash it is a winter squash.  It is a medium sized, oblong fruits, yellow in color.  Spaghetti Squash is a very good eating squash, and the kids love it, it is probably the most popular Squash for kids.

              We will add a recipe later, and some more good news, the winter spaghetti squash will last long in to the winter, well after your garden is gone.  All you have to do is in the fall after the vine is starting to die and the outside of the squash has turned yellow, it's time to pick the spaghetti squash.  When cutting the squash for storing for the winter, always cut the stem back from the squash about 2 inches, store in a cool dry place about 50 to 55 degrees, squash in cool area will keep fresh up to 6 months.

               The winter Spaghetti Squash is easy to raise, but there are some things to keep in mind.

               1.  Do not plant too early, wait until all danger of frost has past and all the cold weather is gone.  The ground has to be warm in order for the seeds to germinate.

               2.  It is very important to have good rich soil, you can add organic fertilizer, such as manure or compost, add to 3 to 4 inches of manure or compost, and work it up well in under the soil.  Level your garden soil with a garden rake, and now you are ready to plant.

                3.  Always plant in full sun.

               4.  You can plant in rows or mounds, you can purchase the seed in the winter, and set out the plant in the early spring or you can just plant the seed in your garden soil in the spring.  Plant directly outside in warm weather, transplant the seedlings or plant the seeds in groups of 2 to 3 in a sunny location.  You can plant in mounds or rows 4 feet apart., plant in soil 1 to 1 1/2 inch  under the soil.

              5.  Water well after planting, but be careful not to dig up your seed, water well but water on low pressure.  Keep all the weeds out and keep the soil water often unless you get rain, just never let the soil dry completely out.

                6.  Days to Harvest:  100 days after planting,  good eating!!!

             Well I guess we will quit here for today, tomorrow we will share some winter spaghetti squash recipes with you all.  Until then, thank you for being here with us on Garden The Easy Way, Good Gardening Always Ken & Marilou.

Blue Hubbard Squash ( How To Grow )

               Hello!  we hope you all are having a good day and welcome back here with us  Ken and Marilou on Garden The Easy Way.

               Today we would like to talk about another winter squash, the name is Blue Hubbard Squash, it is a light color blue on the outside and yellow on the inside. It is a vine plant not a bush like plant so it does need a lot of room to grow.

               Blue Hubbard Squash is so beautiful and it has a smooth creamy flesh that tastes so very good baked, but you also can fix them a lot of different ways, and there is a lot of recipe.

               Blue Hubbard Squash is very easy to raise but there are some things you need to know.

              1.  Do not rush to plant too early in the spring, make sure you wait until all danger of frost has past and the ground is warmed up, or your squash may not come up.

              2.  You do need good rich soil, and some good organic fertilizer mix well, and some mulch.  Make sure to add it all together and mix it up well 12 to 24 inches.

              3.  Always plant in full sun.

              4.  Level your garden soil, and make your rows.  Bury the Blue Hubbard Squash seeds, 1-inch below the soil surface and 5 feet apart.  If you are growing more than one row of Hubbard Squash, space them 7 to 10 feet apart.

              5.  Water well after you have planted, but be very careful not uncover your seeds.  You need to keep the flow of water low, water often keep soil moist to a depth of 2 inches.  Reduce watering once the seeds have germinated.  The seeds will typically germinate within 7 to 10 days.  Once they're sprouted, water once a day and use enough water to moisten the soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches.  

              6. Fruit Size : 4 to 5 lbs.

              7.  Days to Harvest: 100 days

              Well that's it for today we hope to talk to you all tomorrow here on Garden The Easy Way.  Until then Good Gardening Always from Ken & Marilou.

     

Buttercup Squash ( How To Grow )

                 Hello and welcome back here today with us on Garden The Easy Way, this is Ken and Marilou.

                 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.
                

                 Well that's it for today we hope we been some help today and we hope to talk here tomorrow on Garden The Easy Way.  Until then this is Ken & Marilou wishing you all Happy Gardening Always.

Acorn Squash ( How To Grow )

                     Thank you all for joining us here today on Garden The Easy Way, this is Ken and Marilou.

                     Today we would like to talk about Acorn Squash, it is a winter squash and it is a fall favorite of many dinner tables across the country, and like most winter squash Acorn Squash stores well, it will keep for months if stored away in a cool, dry and dark place.  And you should have Acorn Squash most of the winter.

                     There are winter and summer varieties.  Winter Squash produce fruit with thick skins.  They can be stored for a long period, well into the winter months, if properly stored.  The skin of winter Squash is not eaten. 

                     Acorn Squash is so easy to raise but there are some important things you need to know.

                     1.  Choose a spot just for your Acorn Squash, do not put them in your garden, Acorn Squash need a lot of room, they have long vines and large heavy fruit, and they will take over your garden.  Plant in full sun.

                    2. Plant only after all danger of frost has past and the soil has warmed up, you will need warm soil to germinate.  

                     3.  Acorn Squash thrive in rich well drained soil.  If your soil needs a little help, just add some garden soil mix or lot of compost and some mulch, that will feed your garden and help keep the weeds out.

                     4.  Hills is best for drainage, hills should be spaced about three feet apart.  Plant 5 to 6 seeds in each hill, after planting water well,  Acorn Squash love water, never let the soil dry completely out.  After seedling sprout and they are about 2" inches, thin out leave no more than 3 plants per hill.  

                     5.  Days to Harvest: 70 to 90 days. 

                     Well I guess that's it for today, we hope we been some help.  We hope to be back here tomorrow on Garden The Easy Way, until then Good Gardening Always from Ken & Marilou.

Straightneck Summer Squash ( How To Grow )

                    Welcome back here today with us, this is Ken and Marilou with you on Garden The Easy Way.

                    Today we would like to talk about another good eating squash, the name of it is Straightneck Summer Squash, there are so many different ways of preparing the Straightneck Summer Squash for the dinner table, and hundreds of recipe. Summer squash produces thin skinned fruit, and does not store well. Summer squash is usually eaten without peeling the skin.
                   
                    You will have a lot of people tell you, enjoy it while you can because after the summer is gone you will not have anymore until next summer, that does not have to be the case, you can freeze the squash  or it can be canned.  It is a little work but if you have the time it be worth it. 

                    The Straightneck Summer Squash are so very easy to raise, but there are few things you need to know when planting. 

                    1.  Good garden soil will help you raise a lot of beautiful Straightneck Summer Squash.  If your soil does not look dark in color it may need some help, just add some compost or mulch that will feed your garden and it will help keep the weeds out.

                   2.  Plant in Full Sun: 6 to 8 hours is best.  

                   3.  Planting Depth: 1" inch under the soil, well tilled the soil after all danger of frost and cold weather has past and the soil has warmed up.

                   4.  Row Spacing: you can plant in rows or hills, keep in mind if you plant in rows the summer squash grows on bush type plants that do not spread like the plants of fall and winter squash and pumpkin.You can plant in hills, make a raised hill put 4 to 5 seeds. in each hill, 1" inch under the soil. When the plants are 2 to 3 inches tall, thin to one vigorous plant or no more than two or three plants per hill.

                  5.  Water well after planting, always remember squash love a lot of water, and they need a lot during growing season.  Never let your soil dry completely out., if you don't get any rain, you might have to water everyday or two depending how hot and dry it is.  You can always check your soil before watering, just stick your finger 2" inches under the soil, if you feel moisture you should be fine for 1 or 2 days.  Very important never let your soil dry out, it will hurt your plant or kill it, squash got to have their water.

                 6.  Days to Harvest: 45 to 50 days after planting, Straightneck Summer Squash grow so fast and they are so good eating. 

                 Well that's it for today, we hope that we have been some help here today on Garden The Easy Way.  Until tomorrow this is Ken & Marilou wishing you all Good Gardening Always.

Crookneck Summer Squash ( How To Grow )

                   Good day to you all and welcome back here today on Garden The Easy Way with Ken and Marilou.    

                   Today we would like to talk about Crookneck Summer Squash, but first for those out there that do not know there is Summer Squashes and Winter Squashes. Summer squash produces thin skinned fruit, and does not store well. Summer squash is usually eaten without peeling the skin. Winter squash produce fruit with thick skins. They can be stored for long periods, well into the winter months, if properly stored. The skin of winter squash is not eaten.
 
                   Here is a list of Summer Squashes:   

                  1.  Zucchini 
                  2.  Crookneck Summer Squash 
                  3.  Straightneck Summer Squash 

                  Here is a list of Winter Squashes:
 
                 1.  Acorn Squash 
                 2.  Butternut Squash  
                 3.  Buttercup Squash 
                 4.  Bluehubbard Squash 
                 5.  Goldenhubbard Squash 
                 6.  Cushaw Squash    

                 So many different kinds of Squash and they are so good eating, and very healthy for us all.  And some more good news, they are so easy to raise.  

                 Crookneck Summer Squash are so delicious and lots of different ways to cook them.  There are some things to keep in mind when you plant the Crookneck Summer Squash.  

                 1. Good garden soil is a must, if you want good healthy plants with lots of Squash, if your soil does not look good in color you may need to add some compost and mulch is dark in color and very good for your garden, and it will help keep the weeds out of your garden. After adding mix it up good in your garden with a garden tiller or your shovel, level your garden soil with your garden rake, now you are ready to plant.

                2.  Plant in Full Sun: 6 to 8 hours is best.

                3.  Planting Depth:  1" inch under the soil, with tilled soil after all danger of frost and cold weather has past and the soil has warmed up.

                4.  Row Spacing: you can plant in rows or plant in hills,in rows sow two or three seeds 24 to 36 inches apart for single plant production. Keep in mind if you do plant in rows the Crookneck Summer Squash grows on bush type plants that do not spread like the plants of fall and winter squash and pumpkin. You can plant in hills, make a raised hill put 4 to 8 seeds per hill 48 inches apart. When the plants are 2 to 3 inches tall, thin one vigorous plant or more than two or three plants per hill.

               5.  Always water well after planting, squash love water and they need a lot of it.  In the hot summer days you may have to water everyday or two, depending weather you get any rain or how hot and dry it is.  To check your soil for moisture, all you have to do is stick one of your fingers under the soil.  ( Never let your soil dry completely out, you could kill you plant ).

               6.  Days to Harvest:  45 to 55 days after planting Crookneck Summer Squash, grow very fast and they are so good!!! 

               Well we hope to be back here tomorrow on Garden The Easy Way, until then this is  Ken & Marilou wishing you all Good Gardening Always.