Organic Table Queen Acorn Winter Squash Seeds

Vigorous vines of the Table Queen Acorn Squash produce medium-sized dark olive-green acorn-shaped deeply-ribbed squash that are about 5" across and weigh 1.5 pounds. They are productive and compact, taking just 85 days until harvest. The sweet, dry, golden-yellow flesh is excellent for baking and keeps well. 20 seeds. Non-GMO

Sowing: Gardeners with short growing seasons may want to start their squash seeds indoors a month before the last expected frost. Since squashes do not take well to transplanting, peat pots are the best option. Plant two seeds per pot, later clipping off the weaker seedling. Harden the seedlings by exposing them to the weather for several hours at a time during the week before transplanting. About a week after the last frost or when the soil temperature reaches an average of 60 degrees F, plant the seedlings in very rich soil 8-10' apart in rows 10-12' apart. Another option is to plant the seedlings in hills of two, 8-10' apart. To direct sow, plant the seeds a week after frost 1/2" deep, 3-4' apart and thin to 8-10' apart. For companion planting benefits, plant squashes along with corn but avoid planting them with potatoes.

Growing: Since squash seedlings do not tolerate frost, provide protective coverings if cold weather threatens. Keep the soil moist at all times, but avoid getting the leaves wet as this can cause diseases such as rot or mildew. When the vines begin to develop, a layer of mulch will help conserve moisture and control weeds; mulch also will keep the squashes clean and protect them from too much soil contact. By midsummer, pinch off all the blooms to concentrate the plant's energy on the developing squashes. Table Queen Acorn is a bush type squash.