Soil & Water:Amend soil well before sowing with lots of aged manure or compost.

Planting & Growing:Plant only when spring weather is warm and night temperatures stay above 50 degrees. Sow 2-3 seeds, 1 inch deep, every 2 feet in rows 4 feet apart. Thin to one strong seedling per group in order to provide room for rambling vine. Or plant in slightly mounded hills, 2 feet in diameter, sowing 4-5 seeds in each. Thin hill seedlings to 2-3 strongest plants. Protect seedlings from birds. Thin properly for more productive and healthier plants. To save space, provide trellis or support for vine to grow vertically.

Harvesting & Storage:Winter squash need to mature properly for storage, so wait to harvest when rinds are fully colored up from green to orangey-tan and tough enough to resist piercing with a fingernail and vines have died back. Cut, leaving a good stem handle. Allow to cure for 10 days in the sun, then store in a cool dry place for up to several months.