SHELVES OF WINTER SQUASH LINED OUR GARAGE THIS PAST FALL. There’s nothing that makes us happier than knowing we can have something “fresh” from the garden all winter long. We expect that there will be many people commenting on these winter squash pages, if for no other reason than there are so many interesting varieties to choose from. And they’re ancient ones, too. Yet another gift from Native Americans.

Because of their sprawl, we don’t plant our winter squashes in our beds. We put them to work all summer long – long before they’re actually ready to harvest. We plant them under our rows of corn. Their thick, broad leaves shield the sun so that we never have to weed underneath the corn. Not once. The vines are thick and sparse enough that we can still walk (carefully!) through the rows to harvest the corn.

Hubbard squashes are, of course, the standard heirloom winter squash. Usually in the garden size is not indicative of taste (think zucchini,) but Hubbards, though massive, also have perhaps the most archetypal winter squash flavor. Below are the types of winter squash we’re planting amongst our corn rows this year. Let us know what you’re thinking of planting below the photos of last year’s bumper crop.

BLUE HUBBARD WINTER SQUASH–  Related to the original Hubbard, this variety was introduced in 1909 and has maintained its popularity. The large blue gray fruits have a distinctive shape, 12 15 in. long and 9 12 in. in diameter, and can weigh up to 50 lb. The orange flesh is thick, dry and mealy with excellent flavor. It keeps well throughout the winter. Vine plant.

WALTHAM BUTTERNUT WINTER SQUASH– An improved variety of the original Butternut introduced in 1944. The tan colored, bottle shaped, 5 lb. fruits are 10 in. long. The flesh is dark orange, thick, dry, fine grained and sweet. They store well for up to 6 months. Vine plant.

GREEN HUBBARD SQUASH – Introduced in 1798, this is the original variety brought to Marblehead, Massachusetts from the West Indies or South America. It is also known as True Hubbard or Hubbard. The seedsman, J. H. Gregory, introduced the squash for sale in the 1840’s and named it after Elizabeth Hubbard of Marblehead. The 10 15 lb., fruits are bronze green, 12 15 in. long and 9 12 in. in diameter. Flesh is golden yellow, thick, dry and fine textured with the distinctive Hubbard flavor. An excellent keeper. Vine plant.

BURGESS BUTTERCUP SQUASH – A tasty, turban shaped squash. One of the sweetest of the winter squashes.

BOSTON MARROW WINTER SQUASH –Introduced before 1831, probably grown by the American Indians, this squash was considered, for many decades, the standard for winter squash. It has also been known as Autumnal Marrow. Boston Marrow squash are beautiful, 10 20 lb., 12 16 in. long, 9 12 in. diameter, rounded, fruit with intense reddish orange skin.

GOLDEN HUBBARD SQUASH – Introduced in 1898, this variety is also related to the original Green Hubbard. The fruits are slightly smaller than the blue and green varieties, 10 lb., but are brightly colored with orange red skins and tan stripes. The flesh is deep orange, thick, fine grained, dry and mealy, and perhaps a touch sweeter than the blue and green varieties. An excellent keeper.