Harvesting Squash

Q. I am growing acorn and butternut squash for the first time this year. When do I harvest them, and how do I store them after harvest?

A. All winter squashes (acorn, hubbard, butternut and spaghetti) should be allowed to ripen on the vine. Harvest them before a hard frost, but be sure the skin is hard and not able to be pierced with your fingernail. You can store them for five or six months in a dry environment (50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, with 60 to 70 percent humidity).