Whether you have a green thumb or not, growing plants can be very rewarding and even therapeutic. An increasing number of households across the US are getting more involved in their gardens. Some say this is a result of the pandemic, others believe this to be because of an increased focus on environmental sustainability. Knowing what types of squash to grow indoors can have a lot of beneficial impacts.
Whatever the reason, the reality is more people are enjoying the process of growing their own plants, vegetables and even flowers.
What if you don’t have a garden though. With so many more of us downscaling our homes, often due to the pandemic, having the luxury of an expansive garden is certainly not the norm, in most urban areas at least.
Growing indoors
Believe it or not, it’s actually quite easy to grow squash indoors, provided you have the right conditions, the right tools and plant them at the right time. Before we share which squashes are best suited for growing indoors, let’s look at how to prepare for planting.
Preparing to grow squash indoors
Before you start to plant squash indoors, you need to be prepared.
You’ll need a large pot, sunshine and the right conditions.
The pot
Make sure you select a large pot that is at least 24 inches in diameter and around 10 to 12 inches deep. Fill the pot with soil mixed with good compost and make sure there is drainage. Obviously, you’ll want to have a drainage container below the pot to catch the water as it slowly is drained through the soil. No one wants a stained carpet in the living room!
Sunshine
This may seem an obvious one, but sunshine is critical to making sure your squash grows to a decent size. Consider a space in your home that will give your squash at least 7 hours of direct sunlight a day. If it seems too warm, consider a cooler space otherwise you may burn the plant.
Plant food
You need to select a herb blend that is high in nitrogen (NPK numbers such as 10-5-5). This will give your plant the nutrients and minerals needed to grow.
Okay, so now you are ready to plant your squash and grow them indoors. Hoorah! Which squash is better suited for growing indoors though, and will you have enough space for them? To find out, keep reading.
Types of squash
There are essentially two different types of squash – bush-type squash and vining squash. Vining squash is the type of squash that needs to be supported on a trellis or some kind of support, or you need to have a large open space for it to spread.
Bush-type varieties include acorn, butternut, patty pan and the most popular – the yellow crook neck. These types of squash can grow up to around 12 inches in diameter so they are less time-consuming compared with the vines. This type of squash is smaller than the vining squash and can grow in a container.
Can you guess which type is better suited for growing indoors? Bush-type of course. Let’s explore a few bush-type squashes that you can grow in your home.
Acorn squash
The acorn squash is a good choice for someone who wants to grow their own squash but has limited space indoors.
You can plant your seedlings this time of year, and the plants will be ready to harvest around October. They do quite well in containers and don’t need very much care throughout the growing season.
Just remember, you need at least 7 hours of direct sunlight each day so consider where you are going to keep it indoors. Also, make sure that they have enough room to grow to their full potential. When picking seeds for planting, buy organic ones if possible to ensure they are disease-free. Unlike some other squash types, you can eat both the skin and the flesh once you’ve cooked this squash. Think about all the extra nutrition that you’ll be getting!
Butternut squash
This is another great squash that you can grow indoors if you have the right conditions. The butternut grows well in pots and often produces a good crop once it’s been established. It’s best to start this plant off from seed, sowing it around May time, and then harvesting from September onwards. When it comes to eating this squash, they are perfect as a snack or for roasting. Give them a try.
Patty pan squash
This is one of the easiest squash to grow when it comes to bush-type varieties. If you are looking for something that will give a good yield, then this is it.
You can plant your seedling in early spring, and harvest in September. Patty pan squash can be used to hold guacamole or hummus, to act as a dip bowl! They make great snacks on their own too. To cook these, you can slice them up and steam or sauté them with onions, etc. Best eaten fresh of course but they will keep for a few days if stored properly in your fridge.
The yellow crookneck squash
This is a fantastic squash that grows well in pots on your patio or indoors.
It only takes up to 80 days for this plant to grow from a seed into a full-sized plant (mostly slower in winter), which you can then start harvesting. If you like stuffed peppers, try stuffing these with some tasty ingredients such as brown rice and mushrooms. Yum yum!
Zucchini squash
Last but not least, the zucchini squash is another great variety to grow indoors.
This type of squash is super fast-growing so you will have a good yield very quickly! To eat them, just sauté or grill them with some garlic and Parmesan cheese (or whatever else you fancy!). You can even try making zucchini lasagne if you like, or a zucchini soup.
They should be harvested when they are less than 8 inches in length, while their seeds are immature and soft.
Tips on how to grow indoor squash
Earlier we mentioned what you’ll need to get going, but what should you be doing once you’ve planted to make sure your squash will grow to its maximum potential? Here are a few tips:
Drainage
As we mentioned earlier, it’s important that the water drains through the soil and does not sit at the bottom. Make sure you have a few drainage holes which you can then cover with a coffee filter to stop the soil from falling out or blocking the holes.
Plant seeds properly
When planting your squash seeds, make sure they are about 3 inches deep, close to the center of the container. Add 4 or 5 seeds to make sure you have a higher chance that at least one of them will grow.
Thin down
First, let your plant grow and stabilize. Once it has two leaves or more and has grown to be a few inches tall, you’ll need to thin it down to a healthy seedling.
Monitor the soil
Always check your soil to make sure it’s not going dry. If you’re going away for a few days, then ask a friend to come and water the plants while you’re away. During summer, squash does best when the soil is moist.
Fertilize
You can fertilize with plant food once every 4 weeks but make sure you don’t use too much as this can burn the roots – especially if you have used compost instead of soil from the start. Just add a small amount at a time until you see some results!
Harvesting
How do I know when they are ready? To harvest your squash, simply twist them off or pull them out of the ground by their stems.
Squash facts
You may have begun growing your squash indoors and looking to not only impress your friends and family with your green thumb, but also your knowledge. Here are a few interesting facts about squash when you are deciding on the types of squash to grow indoors:
- First up, where does the word ‘squash’ even come from? It actually means ‘eaten raw’, from the Algonquin word “askutasquash”.
- There are two types of squash: winter squash and summer squash. You can grow both indoors if you have the right tools. Read above!
- Did someone say melons? Did you know that squashes and melons (like watermelon and honeydew) are actually related? Fancy that!
- Spaghetti squash doesn’t taste like spaghetti…
- If you need Vitamin A, then you’ll want to sink your teeth into butternut squash. There is plenty of this important vitamin in this squash.
- The US imports more squash than any other country. Another great reason why we should be growing our own squash at home!
- Summer squash is small but fast-growing, while winter squash grows late and has a hard thick rind.
- Summer squash takes anywhere from 45 to 60 days to mature, whereas winter squash is a bit slower, taking 80 to 120 days to mature.
It’s time to get planting
There you have it, tips on how to prepare and grow your very own squash. Which of our list of 5 will you choose and do you have any tips of your own to add?