FINALLY, the time has come to claim the fruits of labor in the form of large, lush, orange, torpedo-shaped North Georgia Candy Roaster Squash. But the hard part isn’t picking the fruit, the hard part is finding space to store, cutting into the thick flesh and then deciding which recipe to use first!
Storage
One of the draws towards growing this candy roaster squash is the fact that it winters well. The North Georgia candy roaster squash will develop it’s sweet flavor over time to become more delicious and intense if stored in a cool, dry place. Keep the squash in appropriate conditions and you will be able to enjoy fresh squash up to the end of the year.
Basements are ideal for storing large produce whole if moisture is controlled to a minimum and the space stays cool.
Cutting and Preservation
The skin of the North Georgia candy roaster squash is thick. When cutting the large fruit, be sure to have a slip resistance surface for safety and make sure you have a large, sharp knife. Once you have cut into the squash revealing the flesh, cut on the flesh side rather than skin side for more ease.
Squash can be frozen or canned for preserving long term.
Saving Seeds
The seeds of this variety are extremely easy to save. Using a spoon, scoop out the seeds from the center of the squash. Gently remove all the flesh from around the seeds, wash the seeds in a bowl of water or colander and then lay the seeds on a dry towel. When drying out seeds, smooth cloth towels work better than a paper towels (the seeds tend to stick to the paper towel interrupting the integrity of the outside of the seed.) . Dry for at least 24 hours before storing in a container and then in a cool, dry place such as a freezer.