How to Plant and Grow Spaghetti Squash

There’s nothing like eating warm spaghetti squash on a cold winter night. In fact, spaghetti noodles are where the spaghetti squash got its name.

The flesh of the fruit looks a lot like stringy pasta and it is regarded as a healthy and gluten-free alternative to pasta made with wheat.

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Spaghetti squash is a variety of winter squash that can be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 2 through 11.

Despite the name “winter squash,” spaghetti squash is typically harvested in mid- to late summer, though in some areas it may be harvested in early winter.

Unlike types of summer squash such as zucchini, which have a thinner rind and smaller seeds, winter varieties can be stored over a long period. The name “winter squash” actually denotes this, since these fruits can be stored long enough to eat through the winter.

Ready to grow your own at home? Here’s what’s ahead:

With the recent rise in paleo and Whole 30 diets, spaghetti squash came to the spotlight as a healthy and gluten-free alternative to traditional pasta.

While most types of squash are native to North, South, and Central America, they also happily cross-pollinate, and new varieties are developed regularly.

It’s believed that spaghetti squash was originally bred in Manchuria, an area that comprises parts of Russia and China today.

Regardless of where it originally came from, it’s a low-maintenance plant that gardeners can easily cultivate at home.

Like other squash, the most challenging part of growing them is their unruly vines. While they can be trained to grow vertically, the