Last summer, I embarked on an ambitious journey: to cultivate a diverse collection of 100 winter squashes. My reason was simple – to savor their unique flavors throughout the colder months.

This quest opened my eyes to the incredible variety of squashes, from their myriad of sizes and colors to their distinctive flavors and textures. The range of diversity means it’s almost impossible to tire of the presence of squash in dinners multiple times a week.

As a seasoned grower, I've come to realize that these squashes are not merely a source of food - they embody the principles of regenerative gardening, and contribute to the land’s health and biodiversity. With the regenerative gardening practices detailed in my previous guide on how to grow squash, I've cultivated these varieties with sustainability in mind.

This guide aims to share an extensive database of squash varieties. Here, you'll discover squashes that cater to every taste and garden need, detailed by their unique features – whether it’s their color, unique size or shape, or climate resilience.

Let's explore the entire Squash Spectrum, in this guide for gardeners designed to enhance your plot with diversity and sustainability.

Squash Varieties: The Basics

Squash Genus: Cucurbita

Two Major Groups:

Winter Squash Types:

• Longer growing season
• tough skin
• shelf-stable for many months
• great roasted or in winter soups

Summer Squash Types:

• Fast maturity rate
• thin skin
• not for storage
• awesome in stir-fries

Edible Species Overview: Here’s a sneak peek at the species and varieties that we'll delve into further:

• C. argyrosperma: Home of the cushaw, known for its heirloom charm.
• C. ficifolia: The resilient fig-leaf gourd, which thrives in warm climates.
• C. maxima: The giants of the bunch, where you'll find everything from buttercup to kabocha.
• C. moschata: A category graced by the beloved butternut and other rich-flavored varieties.
• C. pepo: A diverse group that covers garden staples like zucchini squash varieties, and unique finds like gem squashes.

Illinois Extension, NWE, Oxford Herbarium, Wikipedia 1, Wikipedia 2

→ Fun Fact: Squash fruit is botanically known as a “pepo” and is also a false berry (NWE).

Extensive Database: A Squash Variety List

Below is a interactive sortable database of over 100 squash varieties. Sort the list by color, time to maturity, or species. You'll also see which squash are best for drought conditions, which are grown for seed production, and which varieties are landrace seed mixes. Below this chart are more detailed descriptions of the kinds of squash and notable cultivars.

→ Want to learn more about growing squash? Check out my Winter Squash Growing Guide for best practices

Kinds of Summer Squash: A Rainbow in the Garden

Discover the full spectrum of summer squash, with a detailed look at unique traits in stand-out cultivars.

Some summer varieties go from seed to harvest in two month’s time, and will provide a continual harvest throughout the summer until first frost. Eat these squash freshly harvested for best results - most of them do not store well.

Summer squash usually fall under the Curcurbita pepo species.

Zucchini

A classic summer squash that is refreshing to eat during the hot days of summer. With a prolific yield and mild flavor, zucchini is a versatile homesteader’s favorite. It almost seems like you’ll never go hungry with the yields this plant can produce (UFL)!

Best Zucchini Squash Variety for Dry Farming/Drought Tolerance: Dark Star

I fell in love with the Dark Star Zucchini this past growing season. In side-by-side comparison, it out performed other “standard” varieties in terms of drought and heat resistance and over-all production and taste. It will likely be my main zucchini variety that I grow going forward.

Most Versatile Zucchini: Homs Kousa Summer Squash

There's nothing that this squash can't do - it stands up to drought, is highly productive, is "utterly delicious" in its small stage, but still delicious as they grow in size. What's more, this squash has the capacity to store on the shelf for up to 8 weeks, which means this squash can bring the taste of summer well into the colder months (Experimental Farm Network).

Yellow Summer Squash

Yellow summer squashes are more creamy when compared with zucchini, but they are still mild and hold up well in stir-fries or roasts. The bright yellow color adds a pop of cheery color to dinners (UFL).

Scallop Summer Squash:

Sometimes called pattypan, these squashes are visually interesting and quite tasty. Small in size, they sport unique wavy edges and come in a variety of colors. Scallop varieties are known for their mild but also slightly sweet taste (UFL).

Cucuzza (Lagenaria siceraria)

The cucuzza is an interesting heirloom summer squash for many reasons. First, its size - this squash is giant, with normal lengths of 4 feet but with the potential to be even longer, this squash will keep you well-fed throughout the summer (Adaptive Seeds).

Next is its morphable shape: if you want your cucuzza to be straight, let the vine climb on a trellis; if you prefer a more serpentine shape, keep your plant sprawling on the ground (Australian Seed).

Second, it's in a totally different genus than all the other squash in this article. While it's still in the cucurbit family, this is actually a gourd and from the Lagenaria genus. It is native to Africa. In contrast, the genus we know as summer and winter squash is Cucurbita, which is native to the Americas. So while other zucchini and squashes weren't introduced to Europe until the 16th century, the cucuzza has a culinary history in the Mediterranean area that originates in the Roman era (Annals of Botany).

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A Visual Guide to Winter Squash: Storage Champions of the Harvest

Learn about the different winter squashes and how their characteristics make them ideal for long-term storage and hearty meals. There are so many different types of winter squash - from the petite to the giant - that you really can’t tire of them.

All of the edible Curcurbita species will be represented here in the homesteader’s pantry.

Hubbard (C. maxima)

Hubbard squashes are recognized by their characteristic tear drop form. They are large and sweet, and have a tendency towards a long storage time.

Hubbard squashes include the Kuri sub-type, which are popular in Japanese cuisine (Wikipedia).

My favorite winter squash: Oregon Homestead Hubbard Sweet MeatThis squash is a homesteader’s dream. They are not fussy to grow, a breeze to cure, and store extremely well.Last year I had a squash that I harvested in October that was still perfectly edible July.I’ve been growing this variety for years and it will always be a part of my yearly crop plan.

Hubbard with Most Savory + Unique Taste: Potimarron Red Kuri:Potimarron Red Kuri: Potimarron translates to “pumpkin” (poti) “chestnut” (marron) and the name is perfect for this variety. I grew this variety last year and the taste is exceptional. For me, the texture of the squash is like an oven-roasted chestnut, and the undertones of the taste are slightly nutty as well.Sometimes, the “sweet” squashes are a bit too overpowering for my palette and I want something with more of an earthy flavor. That’s when this squash really shines.

Buttercup (C. maxima)

Buttercup squash is round, and can look like a classic “pumpkin” in shape. Sometimes, though, it looks like it has a little domed hat, adorned with its stem.

With a creamy texture, buttercup is well-suited for purees, soups, and curries (Tufts).

Best Bet: Burgess Buttercup: A variety that has been a gardener's favorite since it was introduced in 1932, it's fast to mature, a manageable size and is very hearty in density. Pair that with a high yield and long shelf life, and you have yourself the perfect squash (North Circle Seeds).

Turban (C. maxima)

Turban squash come in a range of colors with fun and unique shapes.

Turban squash are known for improving greatly in flavor and texture after storage for several months - save what some say is the best - for last in your pantry (UCANR).

Best for Warm Regions: Turk's Turban: According to the Alliance of Native Seedkeepers, Turk's Turban began its history in Mesoamerica and has been passed down through the generations. Its taste is described as nutty and sweet, and can mature in as early as 80 days!

Kabocha (C. maxima)

An heirloom that traveled from the Americas to become a staple in Japan. Kabocha squash types are sweet and nutty and add a wonderful complex flavor to winter dishes or even pies! (KState).

Best for Productivity: Marine Grey Kabocha: This squash was bred by the folks at Uprising Organics for both yield and taste. Its light gray-green color is unique in the kabocha world, as these are usually deep green in color. With 90 days to maturity, this a nice option for those with shorter growing seasons.

Butternut (C. moschata)

A classic squash that you see at the supermarket is butternut squash. They are sweet, versatile for a range of dinners, and store really well.There are some excellent varieties of Butternut Squash that are perfect for different growing conditions.

Best Butternut for Cold Climates:“North Circle” Butternut Squash is a variety adapted to the short seasons of northern Minnesota.

Best Butternut for Short Growing Seasons:Butternut “Early Remix” matures in a speedy 90 days compared to the standard 100+ day timeline for this variety.

Best Butternut for new gardens or low-input systems: Lofthouse Landrace Butternut: I love the work that Joseph Lofthouse does with landrace gardening. This variety is great for new gardens or low-input systems because it does not need a lot of fertility to produce well. Since squash are usually heavy feeders, this provides a great regenerative alternative.

Cheese (C. moschata)

Named after wheels of cheese, these squash mirror the color, size, and shape of their namesake. Cheese squash types are creamy and sweet enough to make a tasty pie filling (Alliance of Native Seedkeepers).

Stand-out Variety: Long Island Cheese: A hefty pumpkin that lends itself to both sweet and savory dishes. Roast some for dinner one night, and then turn it into a pie the next. It's also a great keeper, known for its long shelf life in the pantry (Alliance of Native Seedkeepers).

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Cushaw (C. argyrosperma)

If you live in a warm climate with a long growing season, you should grow cushaw squashes. A regenerative gardener’s dream, they are very resilient to pests and diseases, and don’t mind the heat of intense summers. Flesh is kind of like a potato in texture, but sweet in taste (OSU).

Huge yields: Tohono O'odham Ha:l - As Native Seeds Search describes, this squash offers a variety of harvests throughout the growing season. Flowers are enjoyed fresh or cooked; immature squash is eaten as well as the mature fruit, and the seeds can be roasted too. This variety is sliced thinly and sun-dried to eat throughout the winter. With mature squash weighing in a 30 pounds, this cushaw is great for large families or for eating throughout the week.

Acorn (C. pepo)

Acorn squash are nutty in flavor and shape, and are great in a variety of savory dishes (Tufts).

Best for Short Growing Seasons: Table Grace: This variety is from Frank Kutka of the College of Menominee Nation. It's a landrace that produces early mature squash with excellent flavor (Experimental Farm Network).

Delicata (C. pepo)

Delicata squash are sweet and delicious in stirfries or oven roasted Delicata Squashes are great for chopping up to add to stir fries or oven roasting. Their small size and easy to cut skin makes them great for everyday dinners.

Sweetest Delicata Variety:“Candystick Dessert” Delicata Squash has an out of this world taste. This variety is great for oven-roasting until slightly carmelized to really bring out the sweetness. This type has a smaller seed cavity.

Largest Delicata Variety:“Sugar Loaf Hessel” Delicata Squash: I grew these in my garden for the first time last year and I could not believe how large these delicatas grew! They are massive and each plant produced multiple squashes.

Spaghetti (C. pepo)

An easier alternative to growing and milling your own wheat for handmade pasta, spaghetti squash has stringy flesh that makes a great substitute. And as a squash, it’s gluten free (OSU).

Heirloom and Specialty Squashes

Get acquainted with heirloom and specialty squashes, whose historical and genetic importance fortifies the future of gardening.

Cherokee Candy Roaster (C. maxima)

This squash is like growing a delectable 15 pound pie in your garden. Stewarded by the Cherokee Nation, it is one of those squash that has a flavor that gets only better with storage. This heirloom seed which is well over 100 years old is a rare seed that is thankfully preserved by the Cherokee Nation's seed bank (Atlas Obscura), but you can enjoy this treat of a squash with a purchase from the Alliance of Native Seedkeepers.

Native American Hidatsa (C. maxima)

Shaped like a hubbard squash, this beautiful cultivar is stewarded by the Hitatsa people of the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota. Its a beautiful squash that boasts a short growing season of 100 days and is drought resistant as well (Pueblo Seed & Food)

Futsu (C. moschata)

A gorgeous squash that stores well and is the perfect size for one meal - usually they are around 2 pounds in size. They range in color from blue-green to pink-orange, with a bumpy texture (Adaptive Seeds).

Calabaza (C. moschata)

A staple in Caribbean and Latin American dishes, calabaza adds a savory taste to winter meals and desserts. Calabaza squash are known for their resiliency and can yield abundant harvests in a variety of climates without much input from gardeners (OSU).

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Choose the Right Squash for Your Climate and Taste

Best Squash Cultivars for Short Growing Seasons:

• Montana Jack
• Oregon Homestead Sweetmeat

Best Squash Types for Dry Farming:

• Cherokee Candy Roaster
• Stella Blue
• Desert Spirit Culinary Landrace
• Khersonkaya
• Bethlehem Market
• Dark Star Zucchini
• Native American Hidatsa

Best Squash Picks for Hot Climates:

• Cushaw
• Desert Spirit Culinary Landrace
• Seminole Squash

Best Squash Varieties for Large Yields:

• Cherokee Candy Roaster
• Hubbard
• Lungo di Napoli
• Cushaw

Best Types Squash for Sweetness:

• Honeynut
• Oregon Homestead Sweetmeat
• Long Island Cheese
• Turk's Turban
• Cherokee Candy Roaster
• Sweet Fall

Best Kinds of Squash for Nuttiness:

• Potimarron
• Kabocha
• Acorn

Variety Offers Increased Harvests and Success Rates

In conclusion, to grow a spectrum of squash varieties in your garden is a strategic approach to enhance harvests and resilience - even with unpredictable environmental challenges.

The diversity among squash cultivars, each with its unique maturity lengths, disease resistance, and growing preferences, serves as a safeguard against crop failures. This variety becomes increasingly crucial as climate change introduces more variability into our growing seasons, with potential extremes such as record-breaking heatwaves or unusual summer rainfall patterns.

With range of squash cultivars, gardeners and farmers can mitigate the risks associated with these unpredictable conditions, to provide a more reliable and bountiful yield. In essence, diversifying your squash garden is akin to spreading your risks, which increases your chances of a successful harvest regardless of the environmental uncertainties that lie ahead. This approach not only secures your food supply but also contributes to the ecological and environmental health of your garden, to support a more sustainable and resilient agricultural practice.

Excited to get started growing your own squash? I have a squash growing guide here with best practices and regenerative gardening tips.

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