When To Pick Spaghetti Squash For Ripe Fruits
Once you can identify when to pick spaghetti squash, you'll never have an underripe or tough squash again! We've got plenty of timing tips to help you harvest your spaghetti squash at the perfect time.
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Spaghetti squash is a wonderful winter squash that is prized for its fun inner flesh, which resembles spaghetti noodles. Bake or roast the squash, and its soft flesh can be used as a delicious vegetable substitute for pasta dishes or stir-fries.
Not only is this plant a great gluten-free alternative to pasta, but it also serves as a practical gardening companion. Its large, bushy green leaves provide ground cover and help limit sun exposure to the soil. Alternatively, planting the seeds near a trellis allows them to climb, maximizing your vertical gardening space. If you’re growing this plant in your garden, you may be wondering when it is ripe and ready to pick—we can help with that!
There are many varieties of this beautiful winter squash, such as stripetti squash, Tivoli spaghetti squash, and more. They all have that signature noodle-like flesh within a hard rind, but their harvest times can vary. It may be tempting to pick all the squash at once, but keep in mind that the fruit may mature at different times on the same vine. Don’t worry—we’ll cover a few common signs to help you determine when your spaghetti squash is ripe and ready to pick.
Once spaghetti squash is harvested at the end of the growing season, be sure to store it properly in a cool, dry location to prevent waste. Even if you accidentally harvest your squash early and it’s still green and unripe, you can cook it as you would summer squash or allow it to continue ripening off the vine to make squash spaghetti.
When to Pick Spaghetti Squash
Be ready to pick spaghetti squash in late summer or early fall, before the first winter frost. Some gardeners estimate the timing by counting 40 to 50 days after the yellow squash blossoms have bloomed. While this method can be tedious and requires careful tracking (and a calendar), there are other reliable signs of ripeness. These include checking the vine, assessing the hardness of the rind, and observing the color and brightness of the skin.
When it’s time to pick your spaghetti squash, use clean, disinfected shears or pruners to cut the stem 2 to 3 inches above the fruit. Leaving a stem attached is important, as squash without stems are more susceptible to mold and can start rotting quickly. After harvesting, let the squash dry or cure for a week or two in a sunny, dry location before storing it. Excess moisture can cause winter squash to spoil quickly.
By Estimated Ripen-By Date On Packet
The date on the seed packet should serve as a loose guideline for when the spaghetti squash is ready to pick, but it shouldn’t be the only factor in determining ripeness.
Spaghetti squash typically takes around 100 days to mature, though harvest times can range from 60 to 110 days depending on the variety and your growing zone. Use the ripen-by date on the seed packet to estimate the harvest window, but be sure to check for ripeness using the following signs to ensure you get the best from your harvest!
When The Vines Start To Turn Brown
The plant and its stem should be dry and brown, signaling that the spaghetti squash is ripe and ready for harvest. If the vine is still green, the fruit is still developing and not yet ready to pick.
Shiny Skin
Winter squash is ripe when its skin appears dull. A ripe spaghetti squash will have a matte, non-shiny look when it’s ready to pick. If the skin is still shiny, it’s a sign that the squash is unripe and needs more time to mature in the garden.
Your Squash Is Golden
The skin of spaghetti squash provides a clear sign of ripeness. It transitions from a soft, creamy white to a brilliant yellow. Look for an even golden-yellow color. If the squash has green spots, streaks, or is only partially yellow, it is still unripe.
Using color as an indicator, along with checking the vine and performing the fingernail test, will give you the best clues for determining the right time to harvest this winter squash from your garden.
The Fingernail Test
Next, test the rind for ripeness by gently pressing your fingernail into it. If it leaves a mark or punctures the skin, the spaghetti squash needs more time before harvesting. A ripe winter squash has a hard, tough rind that resists marking or puncturing.
Keep in mind that an overripe squash can become mushy and soft, with a rind that is easily marked. If this happens, the ideal harvesting window may have already passed.
Visible Damage
If there are darkened, soft, or mushy spots (such as bruises or indentations) the harvest time may have passed, and the spaghetti squash could be overripe. Watch for mold, as this is another sign that the squash is no longer edible.
Additionally, if the flower end of the squash (opposite the stem) is turning black, the fruit may be lost.
Will Spaghetti Squash Ripen Off The Vine?
If you’re anticipating an early winter frost or want to pick your spaghetti squash before it is fully ripe, you can let it ripen off the vine. After all, you’ve been gardening all summer—maybe it’s time for a well-earned vacation! The more mature the squash is at harvest, the better its chances of ripening off the vine.
To test its maturity, knock on the rind. If the squash sounds hollow, it can continue ripening after being picked.
Rinse and dry the spaghetti squash, then place it in a warm, sunny location to ripen. If there are green spots, position them toward the sun. You may need to rotate or reposition the squash gradually to ensure even ripening. Once it turns a lovely golden yellow, it’s ready to enjoy.
How To Store Spaghetti Squash
Before storing your harvest, clean the squash to remove any mold, mildew, dirt, or dust. Use a disinfectant solution of 10% bleach and 90% water to wipe down the entire rind. Let the squash dry completely before storing.
If you plan to cook your picked spaghetti squash, you can freeze the noodles for 6 to 8 months. To prepare them for freezing, first cook the squash, let it cool, and refrigerate it for at least 12 hours. Then drain any excess moisture, pat the noodles dry, and freeze them in plastic freezer bags.
Keep in mind that refrigerating whole winter squash can accelerate decomposition due to moisture buildup. Avoid storing whole spaghetti squash in the fridge unless it is tightly wrapped to prevent moisture exposure. If you’ve cut up a raw squash, tightly wrap the remaining pieces. This will help them last 2 to 5 days in the fridge.
If you don’t have enough space in your freezer or fridge, you can store spaghetti squash long-term by keeping it in a cool, dry, and dark location. For the best results, store the squash in a single layer, ensuring they are not touching. A temperature range of 50 to 60°F (10-16°C) is ideal, allowing the squash to last 3 to 6 months. At room temperature, it will keep for about a month.
Check your stored squash weekly for any signs of rotting or softness to ensure they remain fresh.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can you leave spaghetti squash on the vine?
Trick question! The dates on spaghetti squash seed packets are only an estimate for harvest. Most varieties should be picked within a maximum of 110 days on the vine—after that, they risk becoming overripe. However, always check the rind, color, and vine to determine the best time for harvesting.
Do all spaghetti squash turn yellow?
Yes! When they turn a lovely golden yellow, it is ripe and ready for harvest.
Can you eat immature spaghetti squash?
Yes you can. Some like to cook green spaghetti squash like summer squash. It will have a mild flavor. It is fun to experiment with eating your plants at different stages!
