Question
Growing acorn squash for the first time in LA.  The fruit is large on the vine, hard skinned, but not a dark green color. Will the skin get darker if I pick and store outside for a few days?

Answer
Hi Page,

Oh, I love acorn squash! If you are planning to eat your squash right away, you could go ahead and harvest it now--it will be delicious, but will have a more delicate "summer squash" type of flavor. If you are looking to store your acorn squash (or want to be sure you get the more traditional flavor) you should let your acorn squash continue to ripen on the vine. You'll be able to tell when it's ready to pick by checking for three things:

1. The squash is a dark green color.
2. If you pick the squash up, you'll see a lighter spot where it's been sitting on the ground. This is generally yellow. However, when your squash is ready to harvest, this spot will turn orange.
3. The stem where it attaches to the squash will turn brown and withered-looking--this is a good indication that it's time to harvest.

If you are planning to store them for a while, let the squashes cure for a week or so outdoors. This allows the stem to dry out completely and also allows the skin to harden up a bit more. Once you've done that, you can go ahead and store them in the coolest area of your house.

Thanks for the question!