Misc Storing winter squash in a food cellar

[Old Gray Mare]

Putting winter squash by in a food cellar
(Cool Dark Place - unheated basement)

Make sure each squash has a stem (even a small one), is cured, is not bruised or has any soft spots prior to storing.

Clean squash of any caked on soil, etc.

Check squash periodically. If one of one type of squash goes off the rest might not be far behind.

Make sure they are in the dark with no light shinning on them or they will become over ripe and spoil.

Winter squash is not created equal. Some last longer in storage than others. We store multiple varieties for that reason.

Don't store in plastic tubs.

Make sure the bottom of their storage container is dry.

Don't store near heat source (radiators, clothes driers or furnace)

Don't place where it could freeze.

 

[Publius]

Yes be gentile with them and place them in a box or basket as not the bruise them.
Even with careful handling your likely to get some spoilage that will show up month later but minimized due to gentile handling.

 

[summerthyme]

If your basement is the least bit damp, you'd be much better off to find a better spot. Formerly, unheated bedrooms were used... squashes will store quite well (depending on variety,,, in general, larger squashes store much longer than smaller ones) at around 50 degrees... and DRY.

Above all, don't let them freeze. They will rot immediately upon thawing.

Summerthyme

 

[spinner]

We wash them with a splash of bleach in the water. Then we store them at room temp with good air circulation. If possible we cure them in the greenhouse or other warm place for a week or so before storing. We have had very good, long storage this way.

 

[Old Gray Mare]

Checked after about a week. Two had already started to spoil. The rest look good to go.

 

[moldy]

I don't wash - water tends to make things mold in my experience. Store in the house (warm) in dry area. I have several spaghetti squash I need to use from harvest of 2017.

 

[Old Gray Mare]

moldy I don't know about spaghetti squash but I've noticed some other winter squash get more starchy as they age. Its not that they're spoiled it's just over a long period of storage the taste changes.

I don't wash the squash for storage either unless there is caked on mud that refuses to brush or chip off.