Can Frosted Pumpkins and Butternuts be saved?

We had frost this past week, I didn't get down to the squash patch before the frost and all of them have dark spots from the frost on them...will they start to decay? should I bake them and freeze the pulp? any ideas or advice?

moderator's note: added a more descriptive title to topic

 

Those spots are usually just on the surface but its kind of like a burn, go ahead and prepare and freeze as normal but if they stay in the field a few types can start to rot at those dark spots. Pumpkin are fine after a frost. Never hurt mine. Depends on if they are thick skinned or thin. Most all winter squash are thick skinned.

 

C--I had some butternut squash taste a nip of frost and some of them were ruined.
I wonder if it had to do with how they were laying and how hard the frost was. I dunno.
They developed a sort of local freckling and palpable local softness just a few days thereafter.

A note-- it has happened before and there was no lasting damage.

Looking back over what I wrote, I wonder if my comments offer any help.
I suppose that you could process some now and select some to leave and observe with crossed fingers.

I would reckon that pumpkins would be alright, especially if you are speaking of only one light frosting.

 

You could can cubes or puree and make breads and pies later in the year. I have never done it because we eat very little of that stuff. I like to save my shelf space for things I buy allot of throughout the year.

 

Thanks all. They were butternuts and jarradales. The butternuts I think are ruined as they weren't quite ready, I think. I will still harvest them, but they may become chicken food. The jarradales have more than speckling on them, it is as if the whole area is a solid darker skin. (Jarradales are the blue pumpkin like squash.) I guess we will all find out, hub?

 

Sorry to hear this news, Carolyn. It doesn't sound good. Sorry for you, mate.

 

S, It isn't the end of the world. I was very thankful for the nice season (even though it must have been the coolest on record) that we did have. I am sure I can't eat all the squash that did grow, but every year some crops thrive and some don't. Oh, well, another year starts in just a few more months.

 

I am looking at my pumpkins this morning and I think they are looking less frosted. The dark patches are looking like they are breaking up and lighter in color. who would of guessed? and since I am fighting a cold i wasn't too excited or motivated to do anything with them..I had other things to do that were more pressing.

 

Yippee! That doesn't sound too bad, Mizz C.

Sorry to hear that you are not well, though:

 

I hope they are all OK. I've had pumpkins that have been frosted several times and still been OK. I am curious now, about the jarradales ... are they a pumpkin or a squash? They sound intriguing ...

 

Thanks S.

Netty, I think they are more of a pumpkin than they are a squash, but technically they are all squash. They look like a pumpkin in shape, but the color is waaaaay cool. It is a blue green.


Jarradale pumpkins ( photo / image / picture from carolyn keiper's Garden )



here, Maya is confused as to "where did the red dot go?" as soon as the infrared light flashed she was ready to chase it, but it disappeared. :'(


( photo / image / picture from carolyn keiper's Garden )

 

I don't have a lot of storage space for large squash. So, I end up cooking and freezing at least a third of my harvest.

I cook it in the microwave. Poke a hole for the steam to vent. Nuke until it's fairly tender (doesn't have to be fully cooked). Let it cool until you can handle it.

I slice it open, remove seeds, peel, cube, bag it and freeze. It's fine for butternut soup, mashed squash and squash pies. I love the slow, oven baked squash and I love the convenience of having some in the freezer.

 

How do they taste? Are they sweet? Just wondering if this is something I would like to try next year ...

 

I haven't eaten one yet, but I will let you know when I cut it and try it if it is a keeper.

I did Delicata a couple years ago and this is a small winter squash that is excellent if you are looking for a new one to try.

 

I've grown Delicata, it is a favorite!