Thanks to@MichaelFomharfor sharing this lovely photo of moschata diversity!
Hello, winter squash growers! This is the place to share your C. moschata news in 2026. If you are planting this year’s GTS moschata mix, please let us know how it does.
As always, we encourage you to keep the healthiest plants and share seeds from your best-tasting fruits with your community and/or Going to Seed. The more returns we get each year, the more diverse and resilient our seed mixes will become, helping new growers establish adapted plants in their gardens.
The attached zine was customized for the Salt Lake City, UT area, but there is general information that may be useful to you. Thanks for being a part of this community.
Great-looking squash! Did you have more plants, or were the plants more productive this time? Was the weather better for growing squash, or about the same as the previous year?
I had about five times the number of plants this past year(‘25). I also planted very densely compared to the last year(‘24), so productivity roughly halved. It was also a bit drier than the previous crop.
I plan to return to my typical density this year to begin selecting for yield, since the Flavors I desire are there.
I tend to plant squash of all species farther apart than most gardeners so that I can walk between the plants without stepping on the vines when I am hand pollinating. Otherwise it’s less of an issue. I’m at the point now that I can start to let the bees do the work and let them Landrace on their own. I will still do some selecting in the fall / winter for flavor and long keeping traits.
Oooh those look so great and green! I cant wait to start mine but im waiting until my corn is 6inch or taller because im going try out a three sisters garden guild this year.
Doooo iiiittt!! I mean, only if ya want to try some with and some without to compare side by side… But only with your popcorn because from what ive read, sweet corn stalks are a little flimsier than grain corn stalks (at least commercial varieties, until adapted if ya select for it) so once the beans start climbing up the corn they can pull em down if they arent strong enough. If you choose not to try out three sisters this year, I’ll certainly be sharing my progress and results!
try some with and some without to compare side by side… But only with your popcorn because from what ive read, sweet corn stalks are a little flimsier than grain corn stalks (at least commercial varieties, until adapted if ya select for it) so once the beans start climbing up the corn they can pull em down if they arent strong enough. If you choose not to try out three sisters this year, I’ll certainly be sharing my progress and results!