Hubbard Squash
Cucurbita maxima 'Blue Hubbard'
vegetableA massive blue-gray winter squash producing fruits of 12 to 25 pounds or more with dense, sweet, fine-grained orange flesh. The classic New England storage squash, once a staple winter food. Extremely long-storing — up to 6 months properly cured. The large size makes it ideal for making big batches of soup, pie filling, or roasted squash.
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Sun
full sun
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Water
Every 3 days
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Harvest
~110 days
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Difficulty
medium
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Lifecycle
annual
One season, then done
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Spacing
4-5 ft between plants
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Planting Depth
1 in
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Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Growing Details
Soil Type
Rich, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3 – 10
Grown as an annual — this range is its winter hardiness, but you can grow it for a single season in any zone.
When to Fertilize
At planting with rich compost; heavy feeder — side-dress when vines extend 2 feet
Fertilizer
Rich compost at planting; balanced 10-10-10 midseason; low-nitrogen at flowering
🌱 Growing Guide
Sow directly after last frost or transplant 3-week-old starts into warm soil. Vines can spread 8 to 10 feet — give generous space. Hubbard squash needs 100 to 110 days to full maturity. Leave on the vine as long as possible before hard frost. The thick skin is tough to cut; use a heavy cleaver or saw. Halve the squash and roast cut-side-down for easiest cooking.
Planting Calendar
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Start seeds indoors
Mar 25
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Transplant outdoors
Apr 29
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Projected first harvest
Aug 17
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Corn — Three sisters combination — provides structure and light shade
- Beans — Nitrogen fixing; three sisters classic
- Nasturtium — Deters squash bugs at the bed border; edible flowers
- Borage — Attracts pollinators essential for squash fruit set
❌ Keep away from
Potato
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Row cover until flowering; Bt injection into stem; foil wrap at stem base
Handpick adults and bronze egg masses weekly; eliminate plant debris
Row cover on seedlings; kaolin clay spray; beneficial nematodes
Late-season mildew usually tolerated; neem oil or sulfur if fruit not yet mature
🌾 Harvest & storage
Harvest when skin is hard enough to resist a fingernail and the stem is fully dry and corky. Blue-gray color should be even with no soft spots. Cut with 2 to 3 inches of stem attached. Cure at 80 to 85 F for 10 to 14 days before storage. Store at 50 to 55 F for 4 to 6 months. Extremely long storage life compared to most winter squash.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
Excellent source of beta-carotene (vitamin A), vitamin C, potassium, and fiber. The dense flesh provides complex carbohydrates for sustained energy. One of the best winter squash varieties for long-term nutritional storage.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.