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Winter Squash — Cucurbita maxima, C. moschata, C. pepo

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Winter Squash — Cucurbita maxima, C. moschata, C. pepo

layout: base.njk title: Winter Squash description: Growing Winter Squash in West Virginia (Zone 6b/7a) category: warm-season

Quick Reference: See detailed growing information below

Type: Annual
Family: Cucurbitaceae (Gourd)
Sun: Full sun (6-8+ hours)
Water: Moderate (1" per week; reduce near harvest)
Soil pH: 6.0-6.5
Hardiness: Annual (frost-tender)

🌱 Expected Yield

  • Per plant: 5-20 lbs (varies greatly by variety)
  • Per 10' row: 30-100 lbs (2-3 vines for large varieties)
  • Notes: Winter squash need long growing season—start early for Zone 6. Properly cured and stored squash keep 3-6 months. Harvest when rind is hard and cannot be pierced with thumbnail. Leave stem attached when harvesting.

🏺 Heirloom Varieties

Butternut Type (C. moschata)

'Waltham Butternut'

  • Source: Multiple seed companies
  • Days: 100 days
  • Notes: Developed 1940s at Waltham Experiment Station. Tan skin, orange flesh. Sweet, nutty. Long storage (3-6 months). Vine to 10 feet. Most popular butternut. Reliable in Zone 6.

'Ponca'

  • Source: Baker Creek (rareseeds.com), Seed Savers Exchange (seedsavers.org)
  • Days: 95 days
  • Notes: Cherokee Nation heirloom. Tan skin, orange flesh. Sweet, dry. Stores well. Early maturing for butternut type. Cultural significance.

Acorn Type (C. pepo)

'Table Queen'

  • Source: Multiple seed companies
  • Days: 80 days
  • Notes: Classic acorn squash. Dark green skin. Sweet, dry flesh. Bush vines. Individual servings. Good storage (2-3 months). Reliable.

'Golden Acorn'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Southern Exposure (southernexposure.com)
  • Days: 80 days
  • Notes: Golden-yellow skin. Sweet, mild. Bush vines. Early maturing. Beautiful color. Good storage.

'Carnival'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Johnny's Seeds (johnnyseeds.com)
  • Days: 85 days
  • Notes: Green and white striped skin. Sweet, dry. Bush vines. Beautiful. Good storage.

Delicata Type (C. pepo)

'Delicata'

  • Source: Multiple seed companies
  • Days: 85 days
  • Notes: Cream skin with green stripes. Sweet, potato-like. Thin skin—edible when cooked. Vine to 6 feet. Good storage (2-3 months). Heirloom from 1890s. Being rediscovered.

'Cornell's Bush Delicata'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Johnny's Seeds
  • Days: 85 days
  • Notes: Bush form of delicata. Compact vines. Same sweet flavor. Good for small gardens. Cornell University breeding.

Spaghetti Squash (C. pepo)

'Vegetable Spaghetti'

  • Source: Multiple seed companies
  • Days: 85 days
  • Notes: Pale yellow, football-shaped. Flesh separates into spaghetti-like strands when cooked. Mild flavor. Vine to 8 feet. Good storage. Fun for children.

Hubbard Type (C. maxima)

'Blue Hubbard'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Seed Savers Exchange
  • Days: 105 days
  • Notes: Blue-gray skin. Orange flesh. Sweet, dry. Huge fruits (10-20 lbs). Vine to 15 feet. Excellent storage (6+ months). Late maturing—start early in Zone 6.

'Golden Hubbard'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Southern Exposure
  • Days: 105 days
  • Notes: Golden-orange skin. Orange flesh. Sweet. Large fruits. Vine to 15 feet. Good storage. Beautiful.

'Red Kuri' (Hokkaido)

  • Source: Baker Creek, Johnny's Seeds
  • Days: 90 days
  • Notes: Japanese heirloom. Orange-red skin. Sweet, chestnut-like. Thin skin—edible. Teardrop shape. Vine to 10 feet. Good storage. Delicious.

Other Varieties

'Storybook' (C. maxima)

  • Source: Baker Creek
  • Days: 95 days
  • Notes: Small, colorful fruits. Various shapes and colors. Sweet flesh. Ornamental and edible. Vine to 8 feet. Good storage. Children love them.

'Marina di Chioggia' (C. maxima)

  • Source: Baker Creek, Italian seed exchanges
  • Days: 105 days
  • Notes: Italian heirloom. Bumpy, blue-green skin. Orange flesh. Sweet, excellent for pasta. Vine to 12 feet. Good storage. Beautiful but unusual appearance.

'Long Island Cheese' (C. moschata)

  • Source: Baker Creek, Seed Savers Exchange
  • Days: 100 days
  • Notes: Tan skin, flattened shape (like cheese wheel). Orange flesh. Sweet, excellent flavor. Vine to 10 feet. Good storage. Historic American variety.

🌾 Seed Saving

Method: Same as summer squash—allow fruits to fully mature on vine (far past eating stage), harvest before frost, cure indoors 2-3 weeks, cut open, scoop seeds, ferment 1-2 days, rinse, dry thoroughly, store in cool dry place.

Isolation Distance: - Cross-pollinating: Squash are cross-pollinated by bees - Minimum: 1/2 mile between varieties of same species - For seed sale: 1 mile isolation or hand-pollinate and bag flowers - Species separation: - C. pepo (acorn, delicata, spaghetti) won't cross with C. maxima (Hubbard) or C. moschata (butternut) - Different species can be grown together for seed saving - Note: Learn to identify species by stem shape and leaf characteristics

Viability: 4-6 years under proper storage.

Special Notes: - Winter squash seeds are larger than summer squash seeds - Save from 3-5 plants for genetic diversity - Select for flavor, storage quality, disease resistance, earliness - Only save from healthy plants - Fruits must fully mature on vine for viable seeds

Added to WV Planting Guide 26155 — The Loop Farmstead