Seminole Specialty & Heirloom Squash - Organic

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Seminole Specialty & Heirloom Squash - Organic

Cucurbita moschata
(110 days) Open-pollinated. Creek-speaking Seminole Indians gave it the name chassa-howitska, meaning ‘hanging pumpkin.’ Rated one of the ten most endangered American foods by RAFT, these buff-colored 7" teardrop-shaped squashes were cultivated by the Seminole in the Everglades region of Florida in the 1500s. The seeds were sowed at the base of girdled trees, so that the irrepressible vines, which grow in excess of 30', climbed the trunks, allowing the fruit to hang from the bare limbs. The deep orange flesh is sweeter than butternut, superb for pies, soup and baked treats, and the key ingredient in delicious Seminole pumpkin bread. Rated third among 21 varieties in a 2005 fall taste test, and was co-star with Paydon in our February 2006 warehouse feast. Resistant to vine borers. Extremely hard rind must be cracked like a coconut. Stores nearly forever. A great performer in the south and along the Atlantic seaboard, it loves hot humid climates. Kathleen from Zone 6b in Tennessee extols Seminole as “perfect for this climate and very disease resistant.” Typically requires too long a season to thrive in the North.

Elisa Carbone of Hendricks, WV, advises that the immature fruits taste like extremely sweet zucchini. “Just chop them up and steam, sauté or make the most heavenly frittata ever!” Mary Foley, who is enjoying her retirement in Massachusetts, sent in a picture of a Seminole after one year of storage and proclaimed that it “tasted as good as ever.” This was from seed she saved herself, but it shows the potential of this squash. Indigenous Royalties.

OGThis item is certified organic


1693 Seminole - Organic
Item Discounted
Price
Quantity
A: 1/8oz for $4.95   
B: 1/4oz for $8.50   
C: 1/2oz for $13.35   

Additional Information

Cucurbita moschata

C. moschata are usually smooth and tan. They are the squash of choice in Zones 6 and south because of their relative resistance to the squash vine borers that torment acorns and buttercups. See also Cheese Pumpkin.

Winter Squash

  • All open-pollinated except where noted.
  • Days to maturity are from direct seeding; subtract 20 days for transplants.

Culture: May be direct-seeded or transplanted. Minimum germination temperature 60°, optimal temperature range 70–90°. Direct seeding: Sow 4–5 seeds per hill when weather has warmed after danger of frost. Allow 4–6' between hills. Thin to 3 best plants. Transplanting: Start indoors three weeks before setting out. Do not disturb the roots. Transplant bush varieties 18" apart, vining varieties 30" apart. For either method, use wire hoops and row covers to hasten maturity and reduce insect damage. Tender, not frost hardy. Heavy nitrogen feeders. Excessive heat and/or drought can prevent blossom set, reduce yields. Winter squash can take one or two light frosts on the vine. To improve flavor and storage, field cure for at least 10 days after harvest, covering if hard frost threatens. Store under proper conditions, at least 50° and 60–70% relative humidity in a place with good air circulation. Do not pile up squash. Inspect periodically and be sure to use damaged, stemless or small fruit first. Acorns have the shortest storage time before getting stringy, followed by delicatas, buttercup/kabochas.

Saving Seed: Saving squash seed is challenging! We list three species of the genus Cucurbita: C. pepo, C. maxima and C. moschata. Varieties of the same species will cross readily, but crossing will not occur between the different species. You must isolate varieties of the same species by half a mile if you want true-to-type seed. This is difficult for most gardeners—you may have to communicate and collaborate with neighboring gardeners, or exclude insects from blossoms and hand-pollinate. If you can pull off the variety isolation, processing the seeds is easy: rinse seeds from the guts of fully ripe and cured squash. Dry and store.

Diseases: BR: Black Rot, PM: Powdery Mildew

Pest: Striped Cucumber Beetle
Cultural controls: use tolerant or resistant varieties, rotate crops, till under crop debris soon after harvest, use floating row covers until flowers appear, use plastic mulch, perimeter trap cropping (Black Zucchini and Blue Hubbard make particularly good trap crops), use yellow sticky strips, hand-pick early morning when beetles are very sluggish.
Materials: Surround, Pyrethrum (PyGanic).

Pest: Squash Bug
Cultural controls: rotation, till in cucurbit debris before winter and plant a cover crop, boards on soil surface near squash will attract bugs overnight which can be killed, avoid mulching. Squash bugs lay their brown-brick red egg clusters on the underside of the foliage, often next to the central vein—destroy egg clusters on undersides of leaves.
Materials: Pyrethrum on young nymphs, AzaMax.

Pest: Squash Vine Borer
Cultural controls: butternut squash is resistant, maximas & pepos susceptible; rotation, plow in squash vine debris soon after harvest, use floating row covers, watch for wilting plant parts and destroy borer within.

Disease: Powdery Mildew
Controls: Use small plots to slow spread, plant indeterminate (viney) varieties, control weed competition.
Materials: sulfur and whole milk, mineral or other oils in combination with potassium bicarbonate.

Disease: Bacterial Wilt
Cultural control: Striped Cucumber Beetle is vector—control it; choose resistant varieties.

Germination Testing

For the latest results of our germination tests, please see the germination page.

Our Seeds are Non-GMO

Non GMO

All of our seeds are non-GMO, and free of neonicotinoids and fungicides. Fedco is one of the original companies to sign the Safe Seed Pledge.