Posted on 09/10/2022 5:54:55 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
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As long as they don’t freeze SOLID, they should be fine. I’d harvest any where the stems are coming away from the vines, but I wouldn’t worry about the others while you’re gone.
If using straw would make you feel better, then do that if there’s a chance you’ll have a few freezing nights in a row while you’re out of town. Or a tarp or sheets would be fine, too. Winter squash are pretty tough! :)
Everything I have read says to NOT LET THEM GET HIT WITH A FROST!!!!!!!! under any circumstances.
Except for one site that said a light frost wouldn’t harm them.
Some of mine are almost ready, good tan color, hard rind I can barely dent with my fingernail. The stems are still green though and a couple sites said that when the stem dries out and turns brown is one of the good indicators that the squash is ready to harvest. Some of them have just a vein or two of green left coming from the stem but otherwise are nice and tan with a hard skin.
I thought by Sunday, before we leave, I may at least harvest the ones that are most ready and bring them in to cure while we’re gone. That way I save at least some of the crop in the event there is a frost. The forecast is for partly cloudy, to that makes a frost less likely. It’s those clear nights, like last night, that you have to watch for.
Aside from straw, I thought that maybe just laying some pieces of cardboard across the plants would work for frost prevention but still allow for good air circulation.
I do it like my Dad did, squeeze the seeds onto a paper towel. Let dry and write the variety on the paper towel. When dry peel off the 2nd ply if there is one. Store in an envelope. I also cut off the excess paper. You can plant the paper towel as a layer or break off bits.
You might try washing and drying those underripe ones and putting in a plastic bag, not sealed in the fridge. They should hold til you get back.
I actually just got in from covering everything up.
The low tonight is supposed to be 39, which is colder than last night, and it supposed to be clear, so the chance of frost is higher.
So I dragged out the floating row covers and a bunch of old bedsheets and stuff, and some cardboard, and just laid it all over the plants.
Aside from the squash, I have peppers and green beans to protect. I got all those covered. I have too many tomatoes to cover, so picked anything with any color to it and brought those inside. The tomato plants will just have to take their chances. Besides, I’ve already canned about 35 quarts of sauce.
That’s cold. Hope all is well. See you on the next thread.
Thanks! Thats sort of how I do it. I also soak my seeds on paper towel and then plant them when they start to sprout.
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