Squash, Winter : UConn
Very early bush type, small fruit, great for short growing seasons
Very early bush-habit winter squash variety. Green, acorn type fruits are rather small. But their earliness commends them in short season climates or wherever a quick harvest is of especial concern. Developed by the University of Connecticut.Cucurbitaceae Cucurbita pepo
Harvest when stems begin to shrivel or you can no longer pierce the skin with a thumbnail, but be sure to harvest before the first hard frost.
When and How
When: Winter Squash must be ripe for optimal flavor and keeping qualities. It takes 2 to 3 months from pollination to full ripeness. The fruits are normally gathered after the skin turns dull and the dry stem snaps easily. For good storage properties the skin must be too tough to dent with a fingernail. If they are not fully mature they won’t store well. The fruits must be picked before frost does any damage.
How: Cut the ripe fruit from the vine, leaving about 6˝ of stem attached.
Allow to cure in the sun for 10 days to finish hardening the skins.
The yellow flesh contain complex carbohydrates, Vitamins B6, A and C. Winter squash is an excellent source of beta-carotene and a good source of potassium, niacin, lutein, and iron and thiamin.