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Jessie Keith
Cucurbitaceae
Cucurbita maxima 'Speckled Hound'
Speckled Hound Winter Squash, Winter Squash
Both delicious and ornamental, the flattened, blocky fruits of ‘Speckled Hound’ are pale orange with beautiful, blue-green variegation. The dense, golden flesh has a deliciously sweet, nutty flavor, and is excellent for pies and cooking. This hybrid is tolerant to zucchini yellow mosaic virus. Fruits are ready for harvest 90 to 95 days from sowing.
Cultivated since ancient times by Native Americans, winter squash are warm season, annual vines native to tropical South America. The rambling stems of these plants bear large, golden yellow, trumpet shaped blossoms. Both male and female flowers occur on the same plant, and are pollinated by bees. The male flowers appear first, followed by the female flowers which can be recognized by the distinctive, bulbous ovaries at their bases. Following pollination, the female flowers develop into fruits; these are often masked by the plant’s huge, bristly, lobed leaves.
Sow the seeds of winter squash directly in mounds of rich, light, well-drained soil after all danger of frost has passed. Full sun is required for successful flowering and fruiting. To reduce the risk of fungal problems, avoid unnecessary wetting of vine stems and leaves. Monitor closely for leaf bugs and beetles, and for stem borers at the bases of the vines. As fruits mature in autumn, deer, birds and rodents may browse them, so protect as needed. Harvest before heavy frosts when the vines begin to brown and the rind is firm and solid in color. Cut from the vine leaving a short stem, taking care not to cut or bruise the fruits. Store in a cool, dry location, leaving space for air circulation to discourage the spread of mold.
12 - 1
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Vegetable
Full Sun
1'-3' / 0.3m - 0.9m
3'-20' / 0.9m - 6.1m
Indeterminate
Hybrid Origin, South America
Acidic, Neutral
Well Drained
Loam
Very Fast
Average Water
Prostrate/Trailing
Summer, Fall
Showy
Yellow, Gold
Green, Orange
Bicolor
Green, Light Green
Green, Dark Green
No
Single
Yes
Coarse
Matte
Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Birds
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