Cucurbitas: Winter Squash and Pumpkins

One of the best things about fall and winter seasons is that we get to eat seasonal foods–root vegetables, winter squash and pumpkins, brassicas, cool-weather greens, apples, pears, pomegranates, persimmons, all sorts of nuts and more.

Launch Gallery

One of the best thing about downfall and winter seasons is that we get to rust seasonal foods – root vegetables , winter squash and pumpkins , brassicas , nerveless - weather condition putting green , apples , pears , pomegranate tree , persimmons , all sort of nuts and more . Most of these foods store well , so we are capable to bask them during the cold weather . I specially like wintertime squash and pumpkin ; their bright orange and yellow material body brightens our meals and sustain us . Here , pictured in the photos , are a few that I have grown , or are easy to get at your farmers ’ grocery store , local farm stands , organic markets and even the foodstuff store .

pumpkin , both summer andwinter squash , as well as gourd are all penis of theCucurbitaceae . These vegetables , if heal in a well - air out spot for a few week which toughen their skin , will store fairly well if kept in a basement or coldroom at a temperature of about 50 to 60 degrees F. If you ’ve left your pumpkin or squash out on the porch , and they ’ve been expose to very cold or immobilise temporary worker , their tissue has been damaged , so do n’t attempt to stack away them .

Personally , I prefer the flavor and grain of the wintertime squashes over pumpkin … even for pie . The most challenging thing about make the cucurbit is peeling them since their skin are tough and hard . I find that shorten the squash or pumpkin into smaller pieces first and then discase with a sharp veg peeler is the well-fixed and safest path to go . Often cooks simply halve or quarter squashes or Cucurbita pepo , remove their seeds and stringy source cavity and then shift them to a baking sheet and roast them in the oven . This is easy and give the vegetable a nice roasted taste – the flesh becomes soft and it can easily be peeled or scraped from the skin – and eaten as is or used in a recipe . This article has more detailed instructions and photos for prepare the squash:/item/7628 / the - hardy - cucurbit - the - wonderful - world - of - winter - crush - and - pumpkin

My favorite room to prepare wintertime squash is to peel and cut it into large , bite - sized cube , place it on a baking sheet or roasting pan , mizzle it liberally with olive oil and season with sea salt and freshly ground pepper . Place it in a hot 400 arcdegree degree Fahrenheit oven and roast for about 20 instant . hit it from the oven , add a handful of reinvigorated sage leaves and about 10 to 12 peeled garlic cloves and toss well . Reduce oven heating plant to 350 degrees F and joint for another 20 minutes or so , until squash is tender and Allium sativum is cooked . Serve hot .

If there are any leftovers from the above recipe , they can be impart to soup , mashies , bean , stew – toss with alimentary paste or as a woof , used on focaccia or white pizza pie – whatever . It can be mashed and assorted with dull butter and it make a wonderful spread for rolls or homemade bread . I use roast and mashed squash or Cucurbita pepo in scone , biscuits , muffins , simoleons , puddings and custard , Proto-Indo European fillings , cooky , cakes and methamphetamine hydrochloride pick .

Besides being good to eat , the genus Cucurbita are just for us . The orangish color of wintertime squash and pumpkin argue the bearing of carotenoid , which serve prevent cancer and boost sizeable skin . These succulent veg contain antioxidant , vitamins A and C , as well as K , manganese , folate , and omega-3 fatty dose .

Here are a few tasty formula from past blog :

/item/7630 / oven - jest at - wintertime - squeeze - with - garlic - and - sage

/item/7629 / wintertime - squash - soup - with - black - bean - and - corn whisky

Take reward of this wonderful vegetable family while it is in season – you’ll be glad that you did !

Fine Gardening advocate Products

A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo

Fine Gardening obtain a commission for items purchase through links on this site , include Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs .

Chapin International 10509 Upside - Down Trigger Sprayer

The New Organic Grower , 3rd Edition : A Master ’s Manual of Tools and Techniques for the Home and Market Gardener , 30th Anniversary Edition

Get our latest tips , how - to articles , and instructional videos sent to your inbox .

Signing you up …

Gardener’s Guide to Winter Squash

Use Winter Squash for Halloween

Squash Blossoms (Cucurbita species)

Just a Bit More on Winter Squash and Pumpkin…

Join o.k. Gardening for a gratuitous take bouncy webinar boast Dr. Janna Beckerman , a renowned plant pathologist as well as professor emerita at Purdue University and the ornamentals technological handler …

When I spotted a special sand dollar cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few month ago , I knew I was in difficulty . With a delightful color pattern …

When we only prioritize plants we want over plants our landscape painting motivation , each time of year is meet with a never - terminate list of chores : pruning , pinching , tearing , treating , amending , and fertilizing , with …

Pictured here are three common squash, left to right: spaghetti squash, acorn and butternut. They are delicious and easily prepared. Spaghetti squash should be baked whole in the oven and once tender (about an hour at 350F), halved and seeds removed. Take a large fork and scrape across the meat to make “strings of spaghetti”. Click on other pix to enlarge and read captions.Photo/Illustration: Susan Belsinger

Video

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be careful when you enter the backyard of garden designer Jeff Epping — not because you ’re probable to stumble on something , but because you might be dive - bomb by a pair …