Garden & Yard: Wonderful Winter Squash
(Page 6 of 7)
Sorting Through Winter Squash
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Cucurbita maxima
Includes buttercups, bananas, hubbards, kabochas and some pumpkins
Days to maturity: 95 to 105
Appearance: Tremendous variation in size and rind color; from 4 to 40 pounds
Flavor: Dense, smooth, rich-flavored flesh becomes sweeter in storage, often with nutty undertones; great for pies
Nutrition: More protein than other winter squash; high in vitamins A and C
Pest/disease tolerance: Attractive to squash vine borers, but the plants compensate for damage by developing supplemental roots where vines touch the ground; susceptible to powdery mildew
Storage: Up to five months
Good varieties: ‘Burgess Buttercup’ (OP), ‘Sweet Meat’ (OP), ‘BonBon’ (H), ‘Potimarron’ (OP)
Cucurbita mixta
Includes cushaws and Mexican and South American heirlooms
Days to maturity: 90 to 120
Appearance: Pear- and club-shaped fruits, as well as rounded pumpkins; often weighing 10 to 20 pounds
Flavor: Smooth and creamy, becoming sweeter in storage; seeds good for roasting
Nutrition: High in vitamins A and C; seeds high in protein
Pest/disease tolerance: Not preferred by squash vine borers; some tolerance of powdery mildew; best grown where summers are long and warm
Storage: Up to four months
Good varieties: ‘Orange Cushaw’ (OP), ‘Fortna White’ pumpkin (OP), ‘Pueblo Indian’ (OP),‘Tequila Black’ (OP)
Cucurbita moschata
Includes butternuts, “cheese” pumpkins, ‘Tahitian’ and many Japanese heirlooms
Days to maturity: 80 to 100
Appearance: Tan, green or striped skin; shapes include bulbs, clubs, pears and flattened pumpkins; from 3 to 12 pounds
Flavor: Dense orange flesh becomes smooth when cooked; often quite sweet with fruity or nutty flavor overtones; can be eaten immature as summer squash
Nutrition: Extremely high in vitamin A
Pest/disease tolerance: Excellent; highly resistant to squash vine borers, some resistance to powdery mildew
Storage: Up to six months under ideal conditions
Good varieties: ‘JWS 6823 PMR’ (H), ‘Tahitian’ (OP), ‘Futsu Black’ (OP)
Cucurbita pepo
Includes acorns, delicatas, spaghetti squash and all summer squash
Days to maturity: 85 to 100
Appearance: Huge range of colors and forms, including many with 2-pound fruits.
Flavor: Generally milder than other winter squash; good size for stuffing; can be eaten immature as summer squash
Nutrition: More vitamin C and potassium than other winter squash, less vitamin A
Pest/disease tolerance: Attractive to squash vine borers and squash bugs; compact varieties can be grown under row covers; several are resistant to powdery mildew
Storage: Up to four months for acorns; two months for delicatas and spaghetti squash
Good varieties: ‘Sweet REBA’ (OP), ‘PMR Bush Delicata’ (OP), ‘Spaghetti’ (OP)
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