Cucurbita pepo## HOW TO GROW WINTER SQUASH PEPO Start indoors 3–4 weeks before last frost, plant out 2 weeks after last frost. Start 3 seeds in flats or 4” pots, thin to 1-2 plants. Direct seed after last frost or soil 70˚F. Seeds will rot in cool wet soil. 5-6 seeds to a 12” diameter hill or disturbed area. Can transplant end of last frost with row cover. Cucurbita pepo require a relatively short span of time from planting to ripening fruit than other squash. Cure in warm dry place such as a garage for 1 week after harvest. Pinch new blossoms midsummer to encourage larger set fruit size. Winter squash of C. pepo do not store as well as those of C. maxima or C. moschata and are often known as autumn squash. Hard frost damaged fruit will not store well. Soil pH 5.8-7.0. Hardiness zones 4-11. Annual.Days from maturity calculated from the date of seeding. Average 176-300 seeds per ounce. Average 15M seeds per acre. Federal germination standard: 75%. Usual seed life: 6 years. Isolation distance for seed saving: 1/2 mile.Planting Depth 1/2-1”Soil Temp. Germ. 70-85˚FDays to Germ. 3-10Plant Spacing 18-24”Row Spacing 6’Days To Maturity 90Full Sun, Moist Well Drained ##This acorn squash takes the prize for best flavor, vigor, and productivity. Compact bushes can grow up to 12 fruits each. Excellent for storage, and their sweet chestnut taste even improves over time. Developed by Cornell University. High resistance to powdery mildew. Harvest when fruits have hard rinds that can’t be easily dented with a finger nail, and when the color of the “ground spot” changes from yellow to orange/gold. Tags: Color: Bi-Colored, Specialty: Storage, Season: Late Summer Fall.##Strong Roots##Certified Organic by CCOF##Seed grower since 2004##//cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0129/8922/files/Strong-Roots-Farm.jpg?v=1607656897##Strong Roots Farm grows certified organic seed, produce, and garden starts in Mendocino County, California. Seeds from the farm go to other seed companies, and are sold through northern California retail outlets and online as Open Circle Seeds.
