Squash: Storing (6222)

Summer squash will keep for about 2 weeks after harvesting, if the humidity is high and the temperature in the refrigerator is 32 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Winter squash will withstand light frosts in the garden, but should be harvested before a hard frost. Avoid bruising the squash. The stem of certain squash varieties may drop off during harvest or handling, but the scar will heal over.

Cure the winter squash for ten days at 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit with high humidity. When properly cured, these squash should keep 10 weeks or more if stored at 50 to 60 degrees.

For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.

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