Country Gardens – July 2019

(lu) #1

Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Middle


East. Traditional varieties are treasured as tasty


heirlooms around the world. New hybrids retain


the sweet or savory flavors of the heirlooms and


add greater yields and disease resistance. All


types are known for their intriguing shapes,


classic harvest colors, and excellent keeping


qualities. Mature winter squash can be stored for


two to six months or even longer.


Winter squash “connect us to history, right

from the soil,” says Jere Gettle, owner of Baker


Creek Heirloom Seeds, which offers close to


50 traditional winter squash and pumpkin


varieties. Gettle was among the first seed


specialists to bring many rare old winter squash


varieties to market. These horticultural treasures


are at the heart of Baker Creek’s National
Heirloom Expo, held every September in Santa
Rosa, California. The festival is a celebration of
seeds and seed-saving and serves as a showcase
for hundreds of varieties of winter squash.
Growing winter squash requires planning.
Seeds should be planted in summer, when the
earth is warm. The sprawling vines will claim a
lot of ground; the large leaves produce the energy
the fruits need and shade them from sun. It takes
all summer for the vines to grow and the crop
to mature, so you’ll have plenty of time for the
pleasure of peeking under the leaves to watch
your squash develop their distinctive shapes and
colors. But just wait until you taste them.

“WINTER SQUASH


CONNECT US TO HISTORY,


RIGHT FROM THE SOIL.”


— HEIRLOOM SEED EXPERT JERE GETTLE


NAVAJO


CUSHAW

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