Victor Winter Squash

100 to 110 days — In 1897, James J. H. Gregory & Sons of Marblehead, Massachusetts released a large, bright-orange, Hubbard-type squash that was completely covered in bumpy warts.  It was quite unique and was well received.  They chose the name "Victor" because of the many first prize ribbons awarded at agricultural exhibits.

After decades of popularity, it disappeared from modern seed catalogs and was thought to be forever lost.  It was located in the USDA's seed bank and was reintroduced in 2000 by Roger Rupp as "Red Warty Thing."

The farmer who raises this seed for us has been growing it for a few years and has told us some great stories about its attributes.  For example, the 2010 gardening season here in the Willamette Valley of Oregon started off cold and wet.  He said, "the seed germinated in the wet cool soil of June when other squash varieties didn't germinate until July when the soil finally warmed up.  The runners on 'Victor' were about fifty feet long!  From a four hundred foot row (of 'Victor'), we produced about 125 fruits that averaged between twenty five and thirty five pounds each."

Although a Hubbard-type, 'Victor' has a more globular shape.  The rinds are extremely hard and thick, the flesh is semi-dry and has an excellent flavor and quality.  Each packet contains two grams, which is approximately 7 to 8 seeds.