🥕 Winter Squash
Cucurbita maxima, C. moschata, C. pepo
vegetables fruit (culinary vegetable)
☀️ Sun
Full sun (6–8+ hours); more sun = sweeter flesh (increases sugar content during curing)
💧 Water
High; 1–2 inches per week; reduce watering as fruits approach maturity to improve storage quality and sweetness
🗺️ Zones
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
🪴 Soil Type
Rich, well-composted loam; very heavy feeder — incorporate copious compost or aged manure before planting
🧪 Soil pH
6.0–7.0
💧 Drainage
Well-drained; plant on raised mounds/hills 12 inches high for best drainage and soil warmth
📏 Spacing
Varies dramatically by variety: bush types 24–36 inches; vining types 48–72 inches apart; rows 60–120 inches
📅 Days to Maturity
85-110 days (from seed); acorn 85-90, butternut 95-100, hubbard 100-110 days
🍴 Edible Parts
🍽️ ["Flesh of mature fruit"🍽️ "Seeds (roasted \u2014 pepitas from C. pepo and C. moschata)"🍽️ "Flowers"🍽️ "Young leaves/tips (cooked)"]
🤝 Companions (8)
🤝 Corn
Three Sisters guild — squash shades soil supporting corn roots; corn provides partial windbreak
🤝 Bean (pole)
Three Sisters — beans fix nitrogen; beans climb corn; squash sprawls below, prickly leaves deter raccoons and deer
Trap crop for aphids; repels squash bugs and cucumber beetles
Suppresses nematodes; repels pests; attracts beneficials
Repels squash vine borer when allowed to flower and go to seed
Attracts parasitic wasps; improves growth
Ground cover; aromatic oils repel pests
Borage attracts bees and pollinators essential for squash fruit set; its presence may deter squash pests including squash bugs and cucumber beetles. A classic companion recommended by the Almanac.
⚠️ Keep Apart (3)
💊 Medicinal Uses
["Excellent source of beta-carotene (vitamin A) \u2014 especially butternut, kabocha, and hubbard", "High in vitamin C, potassium, and fiber", "Seeds: rich in zinc, magnesium; traditional use for prostate health (pumpkin seeds especially)", "Anti-inflammatory carotenoids \u2014 lutein and zeaxanthin for eye health"]
📝 Notes
Winter squash is harvested mature with hard skin and stores 3–6+ months. Must cure after harvest — leave in sun/warm area for 7–14 days to harden skin. Key varieties: butternut (C. moschata, most disease resistant, stores best), acorn (C. pepo), spaghetti, delicata (C. pepo), kabocha (C. maxima), hubbard (C. maxima). C. moschata is naturally resistant to squash vine borer.