Key Features
- Produces large, distinctive winter squash with a heavily warted green rind.
- Classic heirloom variety valued for its unusual appearance and culinary versatility.
- Vigorous trailing vines are well suited to spacious vegetable gardens and garden plots.
- Performs best in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil.
- Excellent for roasting, baking, soups, stews, and purees.
Growing Benefits
- Adds dramatic texture and character to the fall garden.
- Provides a substantial winter squash harvest for seasonal cooking.
- Mature squash can be cured and stored for later use under suitable conditions.
- Ideal for gardeners growing traditional heirloom squash varieties.
- A striking choice for edible gardens and autumn displays.
Seed Specifications
- Common Name: Chicago Warted Hubbard Squash
- Botanical Name: Cucurbita maxima
- Plant Type: Warm-season annual vine
- Fruit Color: Dark green
- Fruit Skin: Heavily warted and thick
- Fruit Shape: Hubbard type with a tapered end
- Flesh Color: Orange
- Vine Growth: Long and trailing
- Sunlight: Full sun
- Soil: Fertile, loose, well-drained soil
- Water: Regular and consistent
- Germination Time: Approximately 5–10 days under favorable conditions
- Sowing Depth: Approximately 1 inch
- Spacing: Approximately 4–6 feet between plants
- Growing Zones: Best grown as a warm-season annual in USDA Zones 3–10
- Flowering/Maturity: Yellow flowers followed by fruit; commonly matures in approximately 95–110 days
- Uses: Roasting, baking, soups, stews, purees, fall displays, vegetable gardens, and heirloom collections
Growing Tips
- Plant after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.
- Select a location with full sun and fertile, well-drained soil.
- Allow plenty of room for the long vines to spread.
- Maintain consistent moisture during flowering and fruit development.
- Cure mature squash before placing it into storage.
Seed Storage
Store unused seeds in a cool, dry, dark location. Keep them sealed in their original packet or an airtight container away from moisture, heat, and direct sunlight.
Unique Facts About Seeds
- Chicago Warted Hubbard is an heirloom Hubbard-type winter squash recognized for its heavily textured rind.
- Its thick, rugged skin gives the fruit a distinctive appearance in the garden.
- It belongs to Cucurbita maxima, a species that includes many winter squash varieties.
- Winter squash is harvested at full maturity rather than during the tender stage used for summer squash.
