Sibley Squash

(Cucurbita maxima); aka Pike's Peak;  Hand-pollinated; Heirloom; a Slow Food Ark of Taste variety; a New York State Collection variety;  Minimum 20 seeds

I've been growing Sibley for several seasons trying to collect true-to-type seed but for some reason or another its female blossoms proved elusive; then the couple that I did manage to hand-pollinate in 2018 were too close to the garden fence and my geese found them before I did! The 2019 season I grew them far from the bills of my naughty flock ensuring success - and such homegrown Sibley entered our seed stock.

Sibley was introduced to gardeners by Hiram Sibley & Co. of Rochester, New York in 1887, having first been stewarded in Iowa for over fifty years. Its vines are moderately sprawling and like North Georgia Candy Roaster, it does well on a strong trellis. When properly cured and stored, Sibley is an excellent keeper, with its flavor reportedly peaking after the New Year.