Squash , Marina di Chioggia (Circa 1600's Venice)

Curcurbita maxima, An Italian beauty  (Circa 1600's Venice) Turban Group 105 days. Originally from South America - This heirloom squash was introduced Venice early in the 1600s and settled around the small coastal town of Chioggia, Italy. These large, dusty-greeny blue, bumpy, lumpy, large turban shaped, flattish rounded squash average up to 10 pounds. The rich sweet flesh is deep yellow-orange & simply delicious in pies or baked. In Italy, it is prized for gnocchi & for roasting. Flavour improves with storage. Good keeper (about 6 mos) & consistently a good producer, Seed Count Approx - 6 avg

 SOWING - Squash will not germinate in cold soil & needs a warm spot, well-drained & fertile soil with plenty of composted organic matter to conserve moisture;. Planting should be delayed until the soil has warmed (can be started in a greenhouse mid-March onward, plant out end Mayish), Sow directly insitu after a threat of frost has passed. Sow one inch deep in hills or rows spaced 24 to 36 in apart, Harvest just before frosts when the stems dry & turn brown.