Will Spaghetti Squash Ripen If Picked While Green?

With its interesting texture and delicate flavor, many dishes employ spaghetti squash as a staple. Before using the vegetable with a recipe, though, you must allow it to mature. However, if you pick the spaghetti squash while it is still green, it might still ripen indoors.

When to Pick

The time to pick spaghetti squash is once the skin has turned yellow and the skin can no longer be easily punctured with a fingernail. The color and texture change indicate that the vegetable has matured enough to eat.

Ripening After Picked

Ripening a green spaghetti squash may be a difficult task and does not always offer successful results. Bring the squash indoors, and place it in an area with plenty of sunlight. Allow the vegetable to sit for several days, turning it regularly to allow the sun to hit all sides of the squash. If the vegetable is not placed in an area with sunlight, it will not ripen.

Considerations

Before attempting to ripen the squash indoors, wash the vegetable. Rinse the squash under cool water and use your fingers to gently scrub the skin. Use a towel to blot the skin and stem completely dry. Skipping this step might allow the squash to rot or produce mold while sitting in the sunlight.

Grow & When To Pick Spaghetti Squash

Till a 1-inch-deep layer of compost into the top 6 inches of soil in a well-drained garden bed that receives all-day sun. Sow two spaghetti squash seeds 2 or 3 inches apart and 1 inch deep. Space each grouping of seeds 4 feet apart. Seeds usually sprout within seven days. Water the plants near the soil so the foliage remains dry, which helps prevent fungal problems. Guide the vines as they grow in the desired growth direction so the plants don't overgrow nearby beds or grow into walkways. Place a tie every 8 inches along the length of the vine as it grows. The stem begins to dry when the squash reaches maturity. Cure the squash in a humid 80 to 86 degree Fahrenheit location for 10 days if you want to store it for later use.