How to Plant and Grow Spaghetti Squash in Your Garden

If you're a fan of noodles, there is a tried and true way to grow them as a vegetable. Spaghetti squash (Cucurbita pepe var)is uniquely different than other types of squash, but it's been around long enough to find a rightful place in the home garden.

Spaghetti squash is considered a winter type as opposed to a summer squash and requires the typical long growing season, 100 days, for winter varieties. The oval-shaped squash develops along 8-foot vines with large palm-shaped leaves. Each plant produces a main vine with branching. Expect to harvest between 4 and 8 squashes per plant depending on growing conditions and pruning practices.

How to Plant Spaghetti Squash

Spaghetti squash takes around 100 days to reach maturity for harvest, so it's important to set aside a designated space for this vegetable. It can be grown in raised beds or in ground. but its sprawling nature makes it impractical for growing in containers.

When to Plant

Direct sow spaghetti squash seed in the garden about two weeks after final frost in your area when soil temperatures reach 70 degrees F. Plants are heat tolerant once established, but do not tolerate cold. If you experience late, unexpected frosts, use a row cover to protect young seedlings in the garden.

Selecting a Planting Site

Plant spaghetti squash where it will receive at least six hours of direct sunlight every day. This vegetable needs nutrient rich loam that holds moisture but also drains well. Work compost into the top three inches of soil before planting and, if your soil is poor starting out, consider planting in a raised bed. Spaghetti squash will grow in slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil, but performs best in a pH level of 6.0 to 6.5.

Spacing, Depth, and Support

Spaghetti squash can be planted in mounds or in rows. Seeds are usually overplanted, with two or three planted together then thinned to the strongest seedling. Sow seeds at a depth of one inch 18 to 24 inches apart in rows 3 to 4 feet apart. Thin to the strongest seedling once true leaves appear.

To save space, you can add a trellis with shelves for training spaghetti squash to grow upward instead of sprawling along the ground. Use wire fencing and direct the vines so that squash can rest on an attached shelf to mature.

How to Grow Spaghetti Squash From Seed

Provided your growing season extends to at least 100 days it's better to direct sow spaghetti squash seeds after danger of frost has passed. Transplanting seedlings actually sets them back by several weeks until roots develop so unless you live in a zone with a short growing season, there is no advantage to starting seed early indoors. If you do need to start seeds early, plan on four weeks before final frost in your area. Follow these directions to direct sow spaghetti squash seed after all danger of frost has passed.

Planting in Mounds

1. Select a large area in the garden that receives plenty of sun and work in aged compost.
2. Create one large mound about 3 feet long and 8 to 10 inches high.
3. Using the large mound method plant 2 or 3 seeds every 18 to 24 inches along the top of the mound.
4. Plant all seeds at a depth of 1 inch. Push the seed in, pointed side down, with your thumb or index finger.
5. Once seedlings emerge and develop true leaves thin individual mounds to two plants and large mounds to one seedling every 18 to 24 inches.

Alternatively, instead of one large mound you can make several smaller mounds about 1 foot in diameter and 4 to 6 inches high, about 3 to 4 feet apart. Four to five seeds can be planted in each mound.

Planting in Rows

1. Select a large area in the garden that receives plenty of sun and work in aged compost.
2. Use a hand trowel or hoe to make shallow trenches in rows 3 to 4 feet apart.
3. Plant 2 to 3 seeds every 18 to 24 inches.
4. Thin to the strongest seedling once seedlings emerge and true leaves appear.

Spaghetti Squash Plant Care

Spaghetti squash is easy to grow. Vines will fill in a fairly large garden area quickly but it's important to keep the spot weed-free during early growth. If you want to grow these squash on trellising or fencing it's helpful to attach platforms for the vegetables to rest on. If left to hang on trellised vines, stems can weaken and the heavy fruit can separate and fall off before it ripens.

Light

Plant spaghetti squash in a spot that receives six hours of bright, direct sunlight daily.

Soil

Slightly sandy or loose soil is the best type for growing squash since good drainage is essential. You also want the soil to hold some moisture. Planting in mounds helps with moisture and drainage. Spaghetti squash needs a balanced pH and will grow in soil slightly alkaline but yields best in a soil pH level of 6.0 to 6.5.

Water

Spaghetti squash requires consistent moisture throughout the growing season. Soil should remain moist to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. Supplement rainfall for a total of 1 to 2 inches of water per week depending on temperature. Extended periods of heat might require more frequent irrigation. Water deeply early in the day at ground level to avoid moisture accumulation on the large leaves. Mulch with straw, dried leaves or black plastic to retain moisture and reduce weed competition.

Temperature and Humidity

This is a winter variety squash that thrives in summer heat with ideal temperatures between 77 and 95 degrees F. It does not tolerate cold or grow well in temperatures below 60 degrees F. If you live in an area prone to unexpected late frosts protect young seedlings with row covers. High humidity can lead to fungal issues which makes adequate spacing and watering correctly essential.

Fertilizer

Spaghetti squash uses lots of nutrients so organically rich soil is important starting out. Avoid high nitrogen fertilizers, which result in excessive vine growth. Fertilize instead with a granular formula higher in phosphorous when plants are 6 inches tall and again when flowers begin to appear. Alternatively you can feed with a liquid organic fertilizer monthly throughout the growing season.

Pollination

Each plant produces both male and female flowers, and the pollen is transferred between them by insects, usually bees.

Types of Squash

Spaghetti squash is unique for it's noodle-like texture. Other winter squashes feature thick, creamy flesh. All winter squashes have hard, thick skins when fully ripe. Here are some other winter squashes you might like to try.

• Butternut squash (Cucurbita moschata 'Butternut'): Sweet, nutty flavor with tan skin and orange flesh. It takes 100 to 120 days to ripen.
• Acornsquash (Cucurbita pepo): Prized for it's sweet, creamy pulp, this winter squash has a slightly rounded shape with distinct ridges on the skin. Acorn squash ripen to deep green with orangish flesh in 80 to 100 days.
• Kabocha squash (Cucurbita maxima):A small to medium pumpkin shaped squash with mottled green skin and yellowish orange flesh. Flavor is rich, buttery, and nutty with texture similar to pumpkin and sweet potato. It takes 50 to 55 days to ripen.
• Blue Hubbard squash (Cucurbita maxima): Along with pumpkins, Hubbard squash is a goliath of winter squashes, averaging 15 to 20 pounds but it can grow up to 50 pounds. The blue variety is valued for its sweet velvety, yellow flesh. It takes 100 to 120 days to ripen.

Harvesting Spaghetti Squash

Knowing when to pick spaghetti squash may be the trickiest part of growing this vegetable. They're ready to pick when they've developed a deep uniform color, tough skin and brown, dry stem. Young squash start out light green or white in color and turn a deep golden yellow to orange color when fully ripe. Another way to check is to press a fingernail into the skin. If it leaves a mark, the squash is not yet ready to harvest. If frost threatens, immature squash can be picked and kept in a warm, dry location for several weeks to finish ripening.

Use a sharp pruner to cut spaghetti squash from the vine leaving 4 to 6 inches of stem attached. Store whole squash in a cool, dry location at 60 degrees F. for up to three months.

Common Pest and Plant Diseases

Squash bugs, vine borers, and cucumber beetles are all pests of squash plants. Protect seedlings with floating row covers. Preventive application of BT can deter vine borers. You can also cut borers out of the vines before they do irreparable damage and mound dirt over the cut portion of vine.

The big leaves on spaghetti squash are vulnerable to downy and powdery mildew, which can spread to vines and fruit. These fungal infections tend to occur in high humidity or after overhead watering. Use neem or horticultural oil at first sign of infection and repeat applications according to label until fungus disappears.

From: thespruce