John M

Straight neck squash does not strictly need a trellis, but adding one can make a big difference in how healthy and productive your plants become.   These bush-type squash grow compactly and can sprawl on the ground without any support at all.   However, if you’re dealing with limited garden space, pests, or disease pressure, … Read more

Squash will ripen off the vine, but only if you picked it at the right stage of maturity.   If you’ve ever wondered “does squash ripen off the vine,” the short answer is yes, and the longer answer is that it depends on how mature the squash was when you harvested it.   Winter squash … Read more

Squash does not typically self-pollinate in a way that guarantees fruit set.   While squash plants do have both male and female flowers on the same vine, they can’t just pollinate themselves without a little help.   If you’ve been asking “does squash self pollinate,” the short answer is no, not reliably.   Squash is … Read more

Squash will ripen after picking, but only to a certain extent.   If you’ve ever harvested a squash a little too early and wondered, “does squash ripen after picking,” you’re not alone.   The answer is yes, winter squash and some summer varieties will continue to ripen after picking, but the process works differently than … Read more

Squash does require full sun to truly thrive and produce a healthy harvest.   While some varieties can tolerate a little shade, most squash plants need at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight every day.   If you’ve been asking yourself “does squash require full sun,” the short answer is yes, and the … Read more

Squash does need to climb, but not all squash plants are climbers in the same way.   If you’ve ever wondered “does squash need to climb,” the short answer is that vining squash varieties benefit enormously from climbing, while bush squash varieties don’t need to climb at all.   Understanding whether your squash needs to … Read more