Tiptop PMR Organic (F1) Acorn Squash Seed

Scientific name

Cucurbita pepo

Soil and setup

Acorn squash does best in fertile, well-drained soil at pH 6.0–6.8. Plastic mulch and a medium-weight row cover help young plants establish and keep insects off; remove the cover when flowers open so bees can pollinate. Poorly formed fruit usually points to weak pollination.

Days to maturity

Counted from direct sowing. Take off about two weeks for transplants.

Transplanting

About 3 weeks before planting out, sow 2–3 seeds per 2" pot or plug cell and snip off all but the strongest seedling. Harden plants off for 4–7 days and set them out after frost danger, at the spacing for the variety, with as little root disturbance as possible.

Direct sowing

Plant 2 seeds, 1/2–1" deep, at each spot (spaced for the variety's vine length) and thin to one plant once seedlings are established.

Plant spacing

Bush and semibush types need rows about 6' apart; long vines need about 12'. In the row, allow about 18–24" for small fruit, 24–36" for medium and 36–48" for large.

Disease

Powdery mildew, downy mildew, bacterial wilt and Phytophthora are the main diseases. Good drainage, open airflow, beetle control and rotation away from cucurbits prevent most trouble; ask your county Extension office about control options if needed.

Insect pests

Striped and spotted cucumber beetles, squash bugs and squash vine borers are the usual problems on this crop family. Floating row cover shields young plants. Look under the leaves for clusters of bronze squash bug eggs and crush them. If a borer gets into a vine, slit the stem to remove it and mound soil over the cut so the vine can reroot. Mowing field edges, clearing crop debris in fall and plowing in spring all cut down on overwintering pests; pyrethrin gives partial control.

Harvest and curing

Fruit is usually ready 50–55 days after it sets; bring it in before a hard frost. Cut it from the vine and handle it gently. Cure in the sun for 5–7 days, or indoors at 80–85°F (27–29°C) with good air movement.

Storage

Keep at 50–60°F (10–15°C) and 50–70% relative humidity with good ventilation. Repeated chilling below 50°F (10°C) damages the fruit. Acorns taste good straight from the field, and most are past their best about 3 months after harvest; some varieties keep longer (see descriptions).

Seeding rate

At 2 seeds per foot in rows 6' apart: about 1 oz. per 155 ft., 1 lb. per 2,500 ft. and 3 lb. per acre.

Packet

30 seeds.

Seeds per lb.

About 3,000 on average.