How to grow Hubbard Squash (Pumpkin)
in the US

Hubbard squash, now these are proper beauties for your kitchen, aren't they? Part of the cucurbit family, they'll give you a cracking harvest for winter meals. You just need to give them a bit of space on the plot, and they'll reward you with big, tasty fruit.

Sowing

Getting your Hubbard squash started is pretty straightforward, you know. You can sow indoors a few weeks before your last frost, maybe 2 to 4 weeks, to get a head start. Or, if your soil's warmed up nicely, you can sow direct into the ground. I usually pop them about an inch deep. For folks in USDA zone 5, aim for May, while zones 6 and 7 can start April or May. Further south in zones 8 and 9, you can get them in earlier, March or April. Just remember to give those seeds a warm spot to get going, they like it cozy.

Growing on

Once your little plants are up and showing their true leaves, if you started them indoors, give 'em a bit of a pricking out into individual pots. Harden them off slowly for a week or two outside, getting them used to the fresh air before planting them out. Wait until all danger of frost is well and truly past, mind. These plants get big, proper big, so give them at least 3 to 6 feet between each plant. They're not keen on being squashed, you know what I mean?

Looking after it

Hubbard squash are thirsty plants, especially when they're putting on all that growth and setting fruit. So, water deeply and consistently, particularly if it's dry out. I find a good mulch helps keep the moisture in and the weeds down, saves a job later on. They're hungry too, so make sure they're in rich soil, and a bit of feed now and then won't go amiss. Keep an eye on those sprawling vines, sometimes a bit of pinching back helps focus the plant's energy on fruit.

What goes wrong

Now, these big plants can attract a few unwelcome visitors, can't they? Squash bugs, vine borers, and cucumber beetles are the usual suspects. Aphids can pop up too, like on most things. Regularly checking your plants, especially under the leaves, is the best way to catch them early. If you see 'em, pick 'em off by hand, or give 'em a good spray with some soapy water. Good plant hygiene helps keep things tidy and reduces hiding spots.

Harvest

You'll be harvesting your Hubbard squash from about August right through to November, depending on when you sowed. They take about 90 days from seed to plate, roughly. The skin should be hard and the color deep for a winter squash, that's when you know they're ready. Cut them with a bit of stem attached, maybe 2 or 3 inches. Then, cure them for a week or two in a warm, dry spot to harden the skins, and they'll store for ages in a cool, dark place. Cracking for winter stews, they are.