18/09/2026
🍁SQUASH HARVEST 🍂
As autumn settles in, squash become one of the great gifts of the season - and this week we are starting to share the squash harvest with our CSA members!
Squash belong to the Cucurbita family, alongside courgettes and pumpkins, and come in an extraordinary range of shapes, colours and flavours – from sweet, nutty butternut to green-skinned acorn and delicata. Their firm flesh and natural sweetness make them wonderfully versatile, and once harvested they can keep us eating well long after the summer crops have disappeared.
So, what’s the difference between a squash and a pumpkin? Botanically, not much! Pumpkin is essentially a name we give to certain varieties of winter squash, usually those that are round and orange. In the kitchen, the distinction is mostly one of variety, shape and tradition. All pumpkins are squash, but not all squash are pumpkins.
One of the joys of squash is how well they store. Keep them somewhere cool, dry and well ventilated, rather than in the fridge, and they can last for several months. Avoid storing them somewhere damp, and check occasionally for any soft spots. Once cut, wrap the remaining piece and keep it refrigerated, using within a few days.
There are endless ways to enjoy them: roast in wedges with olive oil and herbs, blend into soups, add to curries and stews, bake into gratins, or turn the flesh into pasta sauce. The seeds are worth saving too – wash, dry and roast them with a little salt for a crunchy snack or salad topping. And don’t be afraid of the skin: many varieties have edible skins which soften beautifully when roasted.
Squash are a true autumn staple – sunshine stored in the pantry for the darker months ahead. It’s been a good harvest this year! 🍂 You’ll find them in our farm shop, or in your weekly veg bag if you join us as a member! Find out more and sign up at the link in our bio.
📷 Chloë
