Organic Squash Buttercup - McKenzie Seeds

Organic Squash Buttercup - McKenzie Seeds

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Cucurbita maxima

  • Dry, sweet mild flavor.
  • Heirloom.
  • 5 to 12 days to germination.
  • 90-100 days to harvest.

One of the very best winter squash varieties. Flesh is deep golden yellow, fine grained, thick, dry and sweet. Turban-shaped outside with a rind that is hard, green and flecked with grey stripes. Produces fruit 10 x 15 cm (4" x 6"). Soil should be rich and well-drained. Harvest after the first frost or when the skin begins to turn orange when touching the soil. Generous watering is required if weather is dry.

2g. of seeds

INSTRUCTIONS

Sow seed direct after last frost, or for an earlier crop, start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost. Soil should be rich and well-drained. Generous watering is required if weather is dry.

Planting Depth: 2.5 cm (1")

Seed Spacing: 5-6 per hill or 5 cm (2")

Plantling Spacing: 3 per hill

Row Spacing: 1.5-1.8 m (5-6')

SUGGESTIONS

Harvest after the first frost, or when the skin begins to turn orange when touching the soil.

Preparation Ideas: Preheat oven to 400 F. Cut squash in half vertically. Tip: if too difficult to cut, place squash in oven for approximately 15 minutes on baking sheet, to soften skin. Scrape out seeds and fiber. Brush olive oil on the flesh. Place halves, skin side up, on parchment lined baking sheet and place in oven. When the skin is easily pierced with a knife, remove from oven. Allow to cool slightly and peel or cut skin off flesh. Mash like potatoes and season with salt & pepper.

The size of your garden may determine which squash varieties to grow – squash plants require a large space. Smaller fruited varieties can be trained up a trellis which can help save space.

Keep soil adequately moist throughout the season and give plants a nice deep watering once a week. When watering, try to avoid wetting the plant’s leaves as this can encourage disease.

Harvest and Storage

Summer squash tastes better when smaller in size so for best quality and flavor, they should be harvested when young and tender. Squash grow rapidly so it is a good idea to regularly (every 1 or 2 days) check for more, especially in hot weather.

Often summer squashes are harvested too late when the fruit is large and hard. Most elongated varieties are picked when they are 2-3 inches in diameter and 6 to 8 inches long.

Regular harvesting will increase the yield.

Use a sharp knife or pruning shears to harvest and wear gloves if possible as the leafstalks and stems are prickly and can scratch and irritate unprotected hands and arms

To store summer squash, harvest small squash and place, unwashed in plastic bags in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator. Wash the squash just before preparation. As with most vegetables, water droplets promote decay during storage. The storage life of summer squash is brief, so use within two to three days.

Winter squash can be usually be harvested when the vines have died or around the time of a light frost. The fruits will have turned a deep, solid color and the rind will be hard (not easily pierced by a fingernail). Harvest the main part of the crop before heavy frosts hit your area.

Cut squash from the vines carefully, leaving two inches of stem attached. Avoid cuts and bruises when handling. Fruits that are not fully mature, have been injured, have had their stems knocked off, or have been subjected to heavy frost do not keep and should be used as soon as possible or be composted.

Store on a shelf (not on cement floor) in a cool dry location around 10-13°C (50-55°F).

Companion planting:  Corn, onion, radish

Eating Squash: 

Summer squash can be grilled, steamed, boiled, sautéed, fried or used in stir fry recipes. They mix well with onions, tomatoes and okra in vegetable medleys. Summer squash can be used interchangeably in most recipes.

To cook winter squash, place unpeeled pieces cut sides down on a shallow baking dish and bake in a 350°F oven for 30 minutes or longer. Check for doneness by piercing with a fork or skewer. When tender, remove from the oven and allow the pieces to cool. Spoon out the soft flesh and mash with a fork or process in a blender or food processor. Small acorn squash and spaghetti squash can be pierced in several places with a long-tined fork or metal skewer and baked whole. Piercing prevents the shell from bursting during cooking. Place the squash on a baking dish and bake for 1 1/2 to 2 hours at 325°F.

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All regular packaged seed* orders have a flat rate shipping fee starting at $5.85 for Letter Mail shipping and $11.85 for Expedited Shipping.

*Some Bonus Packs, Sprouting Seeds, Bulk packs, Sprinkle Bags, and Sprinkle Cans will only be available with Expedited Shipping due to larger packaging and weight.

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All US seed orders will use the Tracked Packet USA shipping option from Canada Post. This shipping option is tracked and insured. Shipping times vary depending on its destination but are typically delivered within 4-7 business days.

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