Iowa - is it too early for spagetti squash to be ripe?

[ARose4Heaven]

I planted all my vine crops together...now I am not sure what to harvest when.

This is my first time for Zucchini...discovered they are sneaky little things that get oversized overnight.

I am confused about the Spagetti squash though. Should it be solid yellow when ripe? Is it like Zucchini, best when small? How will I know?

Also...because of the vining tangle across the mulch bed, I don't know how to tell the watermelon from the pumpkins. Do I just wait and see what turns yellow?

[rainbowgardener]

The spaghetti squash should be turning yellow with the rind hardening up so that you can't easily pierce it with a fingernail. When you pick it, let it sit in the sun for awhile til the cut end dries up some.

Sounds like your garden is doing great! Congratulations!

[applestar]

‣ My watermelon leaves have distinct lobes or "fingers" with rounded ends vs. more geometric shape and pointed ends on the pumpkins.
- Pumpkin flowers are MUCH bigger.
‣ If you are growing typical pumpkins and watermelons the shape of the fruits should be a clue too. You won't want to leave the watermelon until it's yellow -- you'll miss the peak of sweetness.

[rootsy]

Harvest watermelon when the bottom turns from white to a cream yellow color... Don't rush it though, once they are off of the vine they will cease to ripen any more.

[applestar]

Thanks for clarifying! I did mean yellow all over, though I've never seen such a creature.

[starflare]

AROSE a spagetti squish should grow a little bigger and it should have a solid shell and be yellow and it is nothing like a zucchine.

[applestar]

You know, just to offer a contrary opinion

I HAVE heard that you can pick Spaghetti Squash young -- picked small and eaten like summer squash, tender skin and seeds and all -- maybe grilled like some people have been raving elsewhere? Haven't had the occasion to try growing them myself (maybe next year )
Let us know how they taste if you try eating them this way.