Blue Hubbard is a legendary winter squash with a dramatic backstory and equally dramatic appearance. This heirloom variety arrived in Marblehead, Massachusetts in 1854 aboard a ship from the West Indies, carrying seeds of a large green squash originally from South America. Seedsman J.H. Gregory recognized its potential and selectively bred it to develop the striking blue-grey skin that became its signature, then spent his career championing this massive fruit to American gardeners. Expect to harvest mature fruits after 110 days in zones 3-10, with each plant producing substantial storage squashes that can last for months in cool conditions.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-10
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Moderate
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The Blue Hubbard's journey from Caribbean ship hold to American heirloom icon is as compelling as its appearance. J.H. Gregory's deliberate breeding for that distinctive blue-grey color transformed a green West Indian squash into one of the most recognizable winter squashes in North American seed catalogs. This variety earned its reputation as a spectacular storage squash precisely because Gregory championed it so effectively, making it a direct link between 19th-century seed saving and your garden today.
Blue Hubbard is grown primarily for its winter storage capability and substantial flesh, making it suited to long-term household use during colder months. As an edible squash, it serves the practical purpose that defined its original appeal: a reliable, long-keeping crop that can sustain a household through winter.
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Sow seeds directly into the garden once soil temperatures reach 70-85 degrees Fahrenheit and all frost danger has passed. Plant at the proper depth and allow sufficient time before your first fall frost to complete the full 110-day growing cycle.
Harvest Blue Hubbard fruits after the full 110-day maturity period when the skin has hardened and turned its characteristic blue-grey color. The squash should feel firm and dense, and the skin should resist gentle pressure from a fingernail. Cut fruits from the vine using a sharp knife, leaving several inches of stem attached to help preserve storage life.
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“The Blue Hubbard's story begins on a ship from the West Indies in 1854, when seeds of a large green squash originally from South America arrived in Marblehead, Massachusetts. A local seedsman named J.H. Gregory received these seeds and recognized something worth developing. Rather than simply grow out what he'd received, Gregory became a deliberate breeder, selecting plants specifically for a more distinctive blue skin color. He devoted considerable energy to both perfecting the variety and, perhaps equally important, marketing the massive fruit to American gardeners. Gregory credited a Miss Hubbard as the person who originally gifted him the seeds, and that connection became the variety's lasting name. His work transformed the Hubbard from a regional curiosity into one of America's most celebrated winter squash varieties.”