Boston Marrow Squash

Cucurbita Maxima

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This lovely, mid-size winter squash has a custard-like, buttery flavor with almost 200 years of documented history, though possibly of prehistoric origin.  It reaches maturity in 90 to 100 days and has striking, reddish orange skin and an average weight of 10 to 20 pounds, though it can be larger in optimal growing conditions.

The squash originated in the upstate New York area and its legend as a Native American vegetable gifted to European-descended gardeners links it to traditional American history. The seeds were later passed on to Salem, Massachusetts in 1831, where the Boston (or “Autumnal”) Marrow Squash was then popularized by Mr. J. M. Ives.  It is speculated to be originally of Chilean origin (linked to the Valparaiso squash or C. mammeata) but this is undocumented. It was primarily used in New England as a pie squash and is prized for its rich orange flesh with a fine texture.  Its water content gives it a fresh mouthfeel, and it was described in 1858 as having a skin as thin as the inner envelope of an egg.  Due to its success in cool and short-season growing regions and other easy-to-grow qualities, its production has spread throughout the United States, from Massachusetts to Washington state and from California to Florida.  It is a good storage crop, for if kept in a cool and dry place it will last until the following spring.

This product is offered by only a few mail order seed companies in the US and Canada, and grown by a small number of farmers across the country.  Its future is in the hands of a few. 

Image courtesy of Mike Denton of Victory Seeds.

Sources

Seed Savers Exchange
3094 North Winn Road
Decorah, IA 52101
563-382-5990
http://www.seedsavers.org

Victory Seed Company
PO Box 192
Molalla, OR 97038
http://www.victoryseeds.com/ark-of-taste.html

Find Producers on LocalHarvest

http://www.localharvest.org/ark-product.jsp?id=90