Okay, let’s talk about the sad signs. If your squash has started to develop hard, bumpy ridges, it’s past its prime. If the ends have started to shrivel, it’s a cry for help. If it looks like a cartoon character who just got hit with an anvil, you missed the window.
Also, watch out for rot on the blossom end (the bottom). That’s called blossom end rot, and it’s basically the squash’s version of a bad hair day caused by calcium deficiency. You can’t fix it once it’s there—just compost it and move on.
But hey, even mistakes are lessons. You’ll never forget the time you tried to pick a 12-inch squash that was tougher than a steak. You’ll learn faster that way.
