Nanticoke squash have you heard of this? Heirloom winter squash originally grown by the Nanticoke people.

Nanticoke is a rare heirloom winter squash, originally grown by the Nanticoke people of what is now Delaware and Maryland

Nanticoke squash have you heard of this?  Heirloom winter squash originally grown by the Nanticoke people. 

​Good morning.  It is a cloudy, foggy and deary day.  We are having sprinkles off and on this morning.  We had heavy rain last night, but it didn’t last too long.  I haven’t heard from Larry had much we did get.  Damp and it is humid out.  Fronts are moving in and out this weekend for rain, and more rain tonight.  Stay dry. 
 
Australia family and friends for their Sunday Sept 20th is having high of 81F(27C) which is really warming up for them.  Stay cool, stay safe. 
 
I wasn’t going to post today, but as I was writing on a postcard to say thank you to the shop customer, I came across this squash and had to find out more about it.  I am wondering if you are from or live in Maryland if you are familiar with this kind of squash.  I will look up the seeds and see if I can grow some for next year which would be fun to see the grown squash with this heritage. 
 
Nanticoke squash is a culturally significant, heirloom winter squash (Cucurbita maxima) associated with the Nanticoke people, known for its remarkable diversity in color, shape, and flavor, and valued for culinary versatility and long storage potential.
Origins and History
Nanticoke squash, also known as Mahkahkw in the Nanticoke language, is a landrace of Cucurbita maxima, a species that originated in South America, particularly in Argentina, over 4,000 years ago
 It is believed to have arrived in North America in the 1500s, where it was cultivated by the Nanticoke people of southern Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland, forming one of the few surviving Native American winter squashes from the Eastern Woodlands
This squash is named after the Nanticoke people, reflecting their agricultural traditions and cultural legacy
In modern times, initiatives like the Experimental Farm Network and the Native Roots Farm Foundation have been working to rematriate Nanticoke squash to Nanticoke communities, ensuring the preservation of both seeds and cultural knowledge
Characteristics and Diversity
Nanticoke squash is highly diverse in appearance:
Colors: blue, pink, grey (most common), orange, coral, white, green, gold, and red
Shapes: some fruits are small and round, others large and flat, some pointed, with occasional “turban” features or prominent warts
Size: typically 3–8 pounds, though other sizes may occur.
Flesh: dense, golden-orange, and sweet, with a fine-grained texture; flavor deepens with storage
Its rich diversity arises from decades of careful hand-pollination and seed selection to maintain both taste and vigor while preserving the open-pollinated landrace characteristics
Culinary Uses
Nanticoke squash is prized for cooking due to its sweet, tender flesh when roasted, baked, or mashed:
Can be used in soups, stews, pies, gnocchi, custards, and roasted vegetable dishes
Flavor note: mildly sweet with a subtle tannin-like complexity, often described as a balance of sweet and slightly sharp
Storage: long-lasting at room temperature for several months, making it a valuable winter food
Growing Information
Life cycle: annual; grows on large, sprawling vines that can cover several feet
Spacing: plant 30–36 inches apart in rows 5–6 feet apart for optimal growth
Climate: thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 3–9, preferring warm soil and full sun
Planting: direct sow after soil warms (typically May-June), or transplant seedlings
Harvest: approximately 100–110 days from sowing; stocks should be cured in a warm, dry place for 10–14 days to toughen the rind
Cultural Significance
Nanticoke squash represents more than food; it is a symbol of cultural resilience and heritage, bridging past and present for the Nanticoke tribe. Seed rematriation efforts reconnect communities with ancestral crops, restoring traditional agricultural practices and culinary knowledge while reinforcing food sovereignty and identity
Growing Nanticoke squash today offers both biodiversity in the garden and an opportunity to honor Native American history and agricultural wisdom. The seeds used by modern growers are often sourced responsibly, and some programs donate seed proceeds to the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Nation
In summary, Nanticoke squash is a unique, heirloom winter squash with rich diversity, both culinary and cultural. Its cultivation preserves genetic heritage and maintains a living connection to the Nanticoke people and their historic agricultural practices.
Taken from AI
Till next time this is Becky Litterer , Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa [email protected]  641-794-3337  cell 641-903-9365  Beckysgreenhouse.com  Facebook Becky Kerndt Litterer or Becky’s Greenhouse