VegetableSquash
Hubbard Chicago Warted Squash
Hubbard Chicago Warted Squash is a dark green, medium-sized winter squash with a distinctly warty skin that has been grown since 1894, when it was developed by Budlong Gardens in Chicago. This heirloom variety takes 110 to 119 days to reach harvest maturity and thrives in full sun across hardiness zones 3 through 13, making it adaptable to most North American gardens. The plants spread to 24 to 30 inches tall and need 48 inches of spacing to sprawl comfortably. As an open-pollinated, non-GMO heirloom, it offers seed savers the chance to preserve a piece of American gardening history.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-13
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam, Rich
Growth Stats
30 in
Height
Spacing
48
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
3-13
Size
30in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
Moderate
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Highlights
The textured, warty skin of this Chicago heirloom isn't just ornamental; it signals the dense, sturdy flesh inside that stores remarkably well through winter. Developed in the 1890s and maintained by Budlong Gardens, this variety represents one of the most storied winter squashes in American seed catalogs. It's neither a modern hybrid nor a newly rediscovered relic, but a continuous thread of gardening tradition that has survived over a century of competition from flashier varieties.
Common Uses
As a winter squash, Hubbard Chicago Warted is roasted, baked, and puréed for soups, pies, and side dishes. The dense flesh and reliable storage make it a staple for seasonal cooking and food preservation, particularly in regions where fresh vegetables become scarce in winter months.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Sow seeds directly into the garden after the last frost date, when soil has warmed thoroughly. Plant seeds in mounds or hills spaced 48 inches apart.
Harvesting
Harvest Hubbard Chicago Warted squash after 110 to 119 days when the skin has fully hardened and the distinctive warty texture has fully developed. The skin should be deep green and feel tough to the thumbnail test; if your thumbnail cannot pierce it easily, the squash is mature. Cut the fruit from the vine with a few inches of stem attached and cure it in a warm, dry location for two weeks before storage to harden the skin further.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Cucurbita maxima
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Cucurbita
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)
History & Origin
“Hubbard Chicago Warted Squash emerged from Budlong Gardens in Chicago in 1894, a pivotal moment in American vegetable breeding when Chicago was becoming the nation's seed and produce hub. The warted appearance, far from a defect, became the variety's signature, setting it apart from smoother Hubbard types and signaling to gardeners that they were growing something intentional and distinct. This variety has persisted as an open-pollinated, non-GMO heirloom, meaning it has been maintained through careful seed saving by gardeners and seed companies for over 130 years, making it both a working heirloom and a living connection to late 19th-century American horticulture.”