October 6, 2024

MDG – 500

Trailblazing Healthy Quality

Buttercup wintertime squash are sweet and packed with natural vitamins

A buttercup winter squash is maturing on the vine. Maturation indicators are drying of the corky stem attachment, dried tendrils (the thin squiggly structure attached to the vine), dulling of the skin, creamy stripes that begin to pale, and a hollow ring when tapped with a knuckle.

The September equinox arrived yesterday, which indicates today is the first formal, full day of autumn in the northern hemisphere. We can really feel it in the air!

“Equinox” is a term derived from Latin aequus, meaning “equal,” and nox, “night.” Variously known as the autumnal, drop, or September equinox, the result is the exact same – day and night time are just about equal in size. Autumn provides with it later on sunrises and earlier nightfall.

The backyard garden currently displays indicators that autumn is right here. Okra, beans, summer season squash are slowing down, leaves are wanting ragged. Even tree growth is slowing down in reaction to the shortening of the times.

But gardens are dynamic – when some factors wind down, other people just take their position – like winter season squashes – expanding all summertime year, they are now maturing and are at very last completely ready for harvest.