Product Description
This packet of Heirloom Winter Squash seeds produces 4-6 pound, oblong, bright yellow Spaghetti Squash fruits with high yields. The self-shredding yellow flesh makes an excellent spaghetti substitute - great for those looking for gluten-free alternatives to pasta. Winter squash is excellent when roasted as well. These heirloom spaghetti squash seeds are part of The Seeds That Built America collection by Harvesting History and are made in the USA!
Planting and Care
Plant the seeds directly into the ground in full sun in late spring (June) after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed. Sow seeds at a depth of 1 inch, 8 inches apart. Plant in hills, 4 feet apart. When seedlings are 3 inches high, thin, leaving 4 plants per hill. Well-rotted manure or compost dug into the soil where the seeds are to be planted is highly beneficial. Prepare the soil with manure or compost 4 weeks prior to planting.
The seeds will germinate in 7-10 days and reach maturity in 90 days. Harvest fruits only after they are fully matured and just before the first frost. Remove from the vine, leaving part of the stem attached to the fruit. Store in a moderately warm, dry area.
Pro Tip: The way to protect your squash from squash borers is to plant it FROM SEED in late June. Another deterrent is to plant radishes and nasturtiums in your squash patch. The Clearwing Moth does not like either of these two plants, especially the radish.
Inspiration
Squash, beans, and corn, known as the "Three Sisters," formed the trinity of the staple diet of Native Americans. Remains of wild or possibly cultivated squash have been found in Mexico dating to 9000 BCE. Similar archaeological evidence has been unearthed in South America, Central America, and North America. Native to South and Central America, spaghetti squash was introduced into the US in the 1890s.
Eighteenth-century Williamsburg was the home of many ardent gardeners and plant collectors who often exchanged seeds with fellow enthusiasts in Great Britain. Gardeners obtained their seeds from store merchants or from traveling seedsmen. Today, the Colonial Williamsburg seed program continues the tradition by offering many varieties grown in the 18th century.
