(C. maxima) Lower Salmon River carries a connection here in the PNW to both its namesake region of Idaho in the interior mountain west and to the Puget Sound, where the old Abundant Life Seed Foundation maintained and attempted to popularize the variety to northwest growers. While its popularity among squash aficionados is growing, the medium/large speckled salmon-pink squash still deserves wider recognition for its fantastic suite of traits.
Vines are vigorous, and maturity is early, which is a boon in the north, and a very hard and thick skin makes the fruits very long keeping: easily until sun-kissed, vine-ripened tomatoes replace winter squash as the flavor of the day, and with some care even until the following autumn's crop comes in. The flesh is very dense with low moisture content (which aids in storage) but strangely reminds us almost of moschata squashes for its fine texture and sweet, fruity flavor. It is excellent as a soup squash or for traditional roasting or braising preparations, but it also lends itself very well to uncooked (pickled or marinated/oil-cured) uses as well (something I rarely look to maxima species for), making it quite versatile in the kitchen.
Be sure to have a good cleaver or heavy, sturdy chef's knife for processing as the skin and flesh are both quite dense.
Fruits can vary in size from 5 to almost 15 pounds, but the most common comes in around the 7-8 pound mark. Both smooth and turban-button blossom end types are common in the natural genetic breadth of the variety.
90 days. MP

Packet: 20 seeds

[split]

Growing Info

SOWING:

Sow indoors 3-4 weeks before your last frost date. Keep soil moist, but not soaking, before emergence, growing at 70F. A growing medium that is too wet and cold will cause the seeds to rot.

Transplant out 1-3 weeks after your last frost date when the soil has sufficiently warmed.

Direct sow 2-3 weeks after the last frost when soil is 70F+.

Note: Even deep watering keeps these plants thriving.

PLANTING DEPTH:

1/2"-1"

SPACING:

18-24" at 5' between rows.

EMERGENCE:

3-7 days @ soil temp 65-85F

LIGHT:

Full sun

FERTILITY:

Moderate. Prefers well-drained, evenly moist, and well-balanced fertile soil with a pH of 6.0-7.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

Be gentle while transplanting to keep the root system undisturbed.

Row cover may be used to provide extra warmth, possible earlier fruit set, and prevent insect damage. Remove as plants begin to flower and require pollinator visits!

Good airflow and well-drained soil can help prevent disease.

Handle gently during harvest and sun cure with good ventilation.

Good ventilation and temperatures between 50-60F and relative humidity between 50-70% are the best for storage.

Winter Squash, 'Lower Salmon River'