Winter Squash

	Table Queen Bush (Acorn) SQUASH, WINTER 2g seed, USDA Certified Organic Code: 53108 Price:$2.35 Quantity in Basket: none
(C. pepo) 80 days. [Introduced 1948.] Space saving version of 'Table Queen' (See description below). Averages 5 fruits per plant. Pkt. (2 g)
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	Table Queen Vine (Acorn) SQUASH, WINTER 4g seed Code: 53109 Price:$2.20 Quantity in Basket: none
(C. pepo): 85 days. [Introduced 1913. The precursor of this variety was cultivated previously by the Arikara Indian tribe in the early 1800's.] Acorn-shaped fruit averages 6" long. Dark-green rind, fine- textured, golden-yellow flesh. 'Table Queen' is an excellent baking squash. Immature fruits can also be used as a summer squash. Pkt. (4 g)
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	Spaghetti Squash (Vegetable Spaghetti) SQUASH, WINTER 5g seed Code: 53110 Price:$2.20 Quantity in Basket: none
(C. pepo): 90 days. [1934] Fruits average 9" long, and turn from buff to pale yellow when mature. Keeps well. Flesh is pale yellow and breaks up into spaghetti-like strands. Boil fruit for 20-30 minutes and remove flesh with a fork. Flesh is tasty and may be used like spaghetti, topped with your favorite sauce. Pkt. (5 g) ***NOTE: originally listed in our 2009 catalog as Certified Organic; due to a short crop, we've switched over to regular seed.
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	Thelma Sander's Sweet Potato (Acorn) SQUASH, WINTER 2g seed, USDA Certified Organic Code: 53111 Price:$2.30 Quantity in Basket: none
(C. pepo): 96 days. [Family heirloom from Thelma Sanders in Adair County, Missouri. Introduced 1988 by SESE.] The acorn-shaped fruits grow up to 6" long, and have pronounced ridges from stem to blossom end. Ripens from a cream color to a light gold. Flesh is thick for the size of the fruit and is golden yellow. Excellent, fine-textured fruits with superb flavor. Seed Saver Pkt. (2 g)
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	Delicata Zeppelin SQUASH, WINTER 4g seed, USDA Certified Organic Code: 53117 Price:$2.20 Quantity in Basket: none
(c. pepo) 97 days. Surprisingly sweet for a pepo, this is one of the sweetest squashes we offer. The cream colored skin has dark green stripes in the ribs. 2 lb potatoes shaped fruits grow 10" X 3". Semi bush vines yield up to 8 fruits per plant. Pkt. (4 g)
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	Buttercup, Burgess SQUASH, WINTER 5g seed, USDA Certified Organic Code: 53301 Price:$2.35 Quantity in Basket: none
(C. maxima) 100 days. [Introduced in 1932 by the ND/AES.] This Burgess strain of 'Butterícup' is noted for its thick, fine-grained flesh and excellent flavor. Fruits are flattened turbans, approximately 4-1/2" x 6-1/2", weighing 4 to 5 lbs. Rinds are dark green with slight ribs and a "button" on the blossom end. Pkt. (5 g)
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	Green-Striped Cushaw (Striped Crookneck) SQUASH, WINTER 5g seed Code: 53501 Price:$2.35 Quantity in Basket: none
(C. mixta): 110 days. [Introduced before 1893, possibly pre- 1860, then known as 'Improved Cushaw'. Cushaws came from the West Indies, earlier than 1700.] This bulb-shaped pumpkin/winter squash is a reliable producer and the most popular of its class. Large, vigorous vines are resistant to squash vine borer. Fruits average l0 to 12 lbs., about 18" long, and l0" wide at the bowl. Skin is whitish-green with mottled green stripes. The light yellow flesh is slightly sweet, thick, medium-coarse, and fibrous. Fine for pies and baking. Pkt. (5 g)
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	Waltham Butternut SQUASH, WINTER 4g seed, USDA Certified Organic Code: 53601 Price:$2.35 Quantity in Basket: none
(C. moschata): 95 days. [Introduced 1970 by the Massachusetts/AES. AAS winner.] A popular winter storage squash of excellent quality. Stores very well. Can be harvested when small and used like a summer squash. Excellent resistance to vine borers. Fruits average 8 to 9" long, 3 to 4 lbs., and have buff-colored skin, and fine-textured, sweet, orange flesh. Very vigorous and dependable variety. Pkt. (4 g)
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	Sweet Meat Squash SQUASH, WINTER 5g seed, USDA Certified Organic Code: 53606 Price:$2.50 Quantity in Basket: none
(Maxima) This excellent 12-15 lb. squash has a slate green skin and orange flesh. Heavy yielding plants will aggressively push the borders you plant them in. Flesh has a dry texture and a buttery flavor that sweetens with age. This squash is an excellent keeper. Because of its tender dry texture, it can be used in place of summer squash in cooked foods. Pkt.
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	North Georgia Candy Roaster SQUASH, WINTER 5g seed Code: 53304 Price:$3.25 Quantity in Basket: none
(C. Maxima) 100 days. Rare heirloom variety. [Early 1900s Appalachian Thanksgiving feasts included “candy roaster pie” instead of pumpkin pie.] Banana-shaped fruits are up to 18” long and 6” in diameter, pink with blue tips. Smooth, delicious orange flesh. Pkt (5g, 20 seeds)
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CULTURE: Culture of squash and pumpkins is similar to that of cantaloupe and cucumber, also members of the squash family. Squash and pumpkins require warm days and warm nights to mature properly. Sow seeds 1/2 to 1” deep. Bush varieties should be spaced 18 to 30” apart in rows 4’ apart or 6 to 8 seeds per hill, in hills 4’ equidistant. Vining varieties are planted in rows or hills 6 to 8’ apart. Keep soil moisture high by mulching, but do not apply organic mulch until the days are warm. HARVESTING WINTER SQUASH (including Pumpkins): Winter squash is ready for harvest when the rind loses its shiny luster, becomes duller, and can no longer be dented by a fingernail. After fruits have matured 10 to 15 days past the ripe stage, harvest by cutting stems 1” above the fruit. Do not allow fruits to become frosted. Store at 45- 60oF (7-16oC) and maintain good air circulation. DISEASES: Squash is affected by downy and powdery mildew, and bacterial wilt. (See Cucumbers section.) To prevent blossom-end rot, maintain an even supply of moisture. INSECT PESTS: Use pyrethrum or sabadilla to control cucumber beetles and squash bugs. Destroy eggs of squash bug by hand, or deposit eggs in a jar of soapy water. To trap squash bugs, place boards around base of plants. Squash bugs will hide under the boards at night and can be collected in the morning. Vine borers can be cut out of stems by making a cut along the length of the stem and removing larvae of the borers. Some additional protection from borers may be obtained by applying rotenone around the base of the plant. For non-resistant varieties of squash a succession of plantings may be required. Use resistant varieties where possible. SEED SAVERS: There are four species of pumpkins and squash. The species name is usually indicated in parentheses beside the name of each variety. Crossing occurs easily within a species and rarely between species. Isolate varieties of the same species by a minimum of 1/8 mile if you save seed for home use. Pure seed requires hand pollination or a minimum isolation of 1/4 to 1 mile, depending on planting size. WINTER SQUASH PACKET: 3 to 5 g (about 22 to 47 seeds, average 31 seeds).

SESE’S GUIDE TO THE CULINARY AND CULTURAL QUALITIES OF SQUASH SPECIES C. pepo: Pepo squash are usually eaten in the immature stage as summer squash because most varieties are not good keepers. Flesh is often mild flavored and usually prepared by boiling, baking, frying, or stir-frying. Quality of the flesh declines in storage and most varieties are best eaten within a month of harvest. Bush varieties of pepo are susceptible to vine borers and are best planted in succession. C. maxima: Many members of this group grow quite large. They keep fairly well in storage, from a few months to a year or more, depending on the variety. The flesh has fine texture and very good flavor. Unfortunately, maxima plants are generally tender and sensitive to wilts, vine borers, and other insects. C. moschata: Most moschatas are excellent keepers. Their flesh is usually orange in color, flavorful, sweet, and often fragrant. Moschatas are well-suited for pies and cakes, though they are often just baked or boiled. This group has good resistance to vine borers and cucumber beetles once the plants are beyond the seedling stage. During the growing season, moschatas need warm night temperatures above 60oF (16oC) to grow well. C. mixta: Most mixtas have a long tradition of being grown in the south, though they are less popular than they were in former years. Flesh color is typically pale-yellow or cream-colored, somewhat coarse and they are not as sweet or flavorful as maximas and moschatas. They are often cooked with sweeteners such as brown sugar or baked with stuffing mixtures. South of the border, most mixtas are grown mainly for their flavorful large seeds that make great snacks. Like moschatas they have good resistance to vine borers and cucumber beetles. As a group they have the best drought tolerance.