this post was submitted on 09 Jul 2023
7 points (100.0% liked)

Gardening

3279 readers
68 users here now

Your Ultimate Gardening Guide.

Rules

  1. Be respectful and inclusive.
  2. No harassment, hate speech, or trolling.
  3. Engage in constructive discussions.
  4. Share relevant content.
  5. Follow guidelines and moderators' instructions.
  6. Use appropriate language and tone.
  7. Report violations.
  8. Foster a continuous learning environment.

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

Last year I started a garden for the first time. Learned a lot! When I picked my squash last year it seemed fine, then I kept it on my counter for maybe a week before I noticed a small rotten spot on the underside. Eventually the rotten spot grew and I just composted the whole squash.

Not sure what went wrong. Was thinking -should I put hay or something under my squash when it starts to grow on the dirt?

all 5 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

What kind of squash was it? The answer depends on type, since winter squash store better than summer squash.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Should go bad that fast, for sure. Did the skin have any obvious bug damage? How warm was it on your counter?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

In general I think it will stay freshest and best if you leave it on the vine until you are ready to eat it. It can continue to receive nourishments and immunity benefits from the roots and internal systems while it’s still attached to the plant. Sometimes there are reasons to pick a little early, and the garden does have threats too. But overall I usually only pick to eat.