Squash - Amish Pie ( Cucurbita maxima) Organic Winter Squash Non GMO Heirloom Vegetable

Squash - Amish Pie ( Cucurbita maxima) Organic Winter Squash Non GMO Heirloom Vegetable

Annual

Height: up to 18 in

This is the tofu of squashes - it absorbs the flavors of the food it is cooked with.

Amish Pie has a very mild taste, and is not sweet...as its name suggests.  Skins are greenish-white; flesh is moist and pale orange in color. The fruits are pear shaped and can grow up to 12 pounds.

This variety stores well. Great for decorative purposes. This squash grows productively in cooler weather. First listed in 1847 by New York seeds man James Thorburn as Green Striped Bell and most likely renamed by Burpee in 1883.

• Full sun
• Matures in 95-100 days.
• Squash prefers fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 6-7.0. Plastic mulch and fabric row covers (AG-19 grade) can aide plant establishment and exclude insect pests during the seedling stage.
• Squash grows well in mounds - hill up some soil and plant three to five seeds per mound.
• Plant seeds 1 in deep, in mounds set 4 feet apart after all danger of frost has passed.
• OR start seeds indoors 3-4 weeks before the last frost date. Transplant when all risk of frost has passed. 
• Squash also grow well in pots or buckets, 5 to 10 gallons is large enough.
• Row covers should be removed when plants begin to flower.
• Water at least 1 in a week. Mulching can also help retain moisture.
• To encourage squash growth, it is important to fertilize prior to planting the seeds and during its growing season as well. Prior to planting seeds, mix up to 3 inches of compost into the soil where you plan to plant the seeds. Instead of composting, you can use a 5-10-10 fertilizer and spread 1 tablespoon per mound prior to planting. Throughout the squash’s growing season, use the 5-10-10 fertilizer monthly.
• Summer squash varieties like zucchini and yellow squash can be harvested when they are young and tender or you can wait until they reach their full size, which is generally 6 to 8 inches long. (See each variety for days to maturity)
• Harvest regularly, 2-3 times a week, once plants begin to produce.  Zucchini will have a healthy sheen to its green skin. Winter squash like acorn, 'Delicata' or butternut squashes are ready to harvest when their outer rind resists puncture by a fingernail. Cut or gently twist off fruits when they have reached the desired size. For summer squash, 4-6″. Keep fruit at 40-50°F with 95% relative humidity.
• Note: Squash blossoms are also edible. Pick the first blooms that appear, as those are the males and if picked, they will not affect plant yields later in the season. Remove the interior of the blossom and add the petals to salads.
• Seed Count: 20