Boston Morrow Squash - Dirt Diva Diaries

Hey there, gardening pals! Get ready to discover a true classic that’s making a fantastic comeback in gardens everywhere: Boston Marrow Squash: The Heirloom Hero of Your Harvest!

Boston Marrow squash, a gorgeous and hearty winter squash, is a real blast from the past, cherished for generations for its incredible flavor and versatility.¹ Often called the “pie pumpkin” of yesteryear, this isn’t just any old squash; it’s a piece of gardening history that’s surprisingly easy and so rewarding to grow in your home garden. With its vibrant reddish-orange skin and deep orange, fine-grained flesh, it’s as beautiful as it is delicious. And the best part? It’s a fantastic choice for both seasoned gardeners and those just dipping their toes into the wonderful world of growing your own food!

Imagine the satisfaction of pulling these impressive, plump squashes from your very own vines, knowing you’ve cultivated a piece of culinary heritage. Whether you’re whipping up a comforting squash soup, a classic pie, or simply roasting it as a savory side, Boston Marrow squash delivers a rich, sweet, and tender flavor that’s simply unbeatable. It’s a joy to grow and an even bigger joy to eat, promising bountiful harvests that will keep your kitchen well-stocked throughout the cooler months.

Why Grow Boston Marrow Squash?

A Taste of History: Boston Marrow is an heirloom variety, with roots going back to the early 19th century.² Growing it connects you to a rich gardening past and helps preserve a wonderful piece of agricultural heritage.
Superior Flavor and Texture: This isn’t just a pretty face! Boston Marrow squash boasts fine-grained, tender, and wonderfully sweet flesh. It’s often described as less dense and cloyingly sweet than some other squashes, making it perfect for a wide range of dishes.
The Ultimate Pie Squash: For over a century, Boston Marrow was the squash for pies in the United States. If you love homemade pumpkin pie, you absolutely have to try it with Boston Marrow for an unparalleled taste experience.
Excellent Storage King: These tough-skinned beauties are fantastic keepers! With proper curing, Boston Marrow squash can store for months, allowing you to enjoy your harvest well into winter.
Impressive Harvests: While it needs some space, a healthy Boston Marrow plant can yield several large squashes, providing a generous bounty for your family and friends.
Vigorous and Rewarding: Once established, these vines are robust growers, giving you a real sense of accomplishment as they sprawl and produce their magnificent fruits.

How to Eat Boston Marrow Squash:

Boston Marrow squash is incredibly versatile in the kitchen, its sweet and tender flesh lending itself to both sweet and savory applications.

Classic Pie Filling: This is its claim to fame! Roast the squash until tender, then scoop out the flesh and use it as a smooth, flavorful base for pumpkin pies, tarts, and custards.
Roasted Perfection: Simply cut the squash into chunks, toss with a little olive oil, salt, pepper, and perhaps some herbs like rosemary or sage, then roast until caramelized and tender. A delicious side dish!
Creamy Soups and Purees: The smooth texture of Boston Marrow makes it ideal for velvety soups. Blend roasted squash with vegetable broth, a touch of cream or coconut milk, and your favorite spices for a comforting meal.
Hearty Stews and Curries: Add chunks of Boston Marrow to stews, chilis, or curries. It holds its shape well and absorbs flavors beautifully, adding a lovely sweetness and richness.
Baked Goods Beyond Pie: Beyond pie, you can incorporate cooked and mashed Boston Marrow into muffins, breads, cakes, or even unique savory baked goods like squash gratin.
Stuffed Squash: Halve smaller Boston Marrow squashes (or larger ones for a crowd!) and fill them with savory mixtures of grains, vegetables, herbs, and meat or plant-based proteins, then bake until tender.

Growing Boston Marrow Squash:

Boston Marrow squash is an annual plant, meaning you’ll replant it each year.³ As a Cucurbita maxima variety, it’s a warmth-loving plant that needs a long, sunny, and frost-free growing season to really shine. It typically needs 90-110 days to mature, so timing your planting is key!

Starting from Seed: You can direct sow Boston Marrow seeds directly into your garden once all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed considerably – ideally to at least 60-65°F (15-18°C), but even happier at 70-80°F (21-27°C).⁴ If your growing season is on the shorter side, you can get a head start by beginning seeds indoors 3-4 weeks before your last anticipated frost date. Plant seeds about 1 inch deep in individual pots filled with good quality seed starting mix. Keep the soil warm and consistently moist. Squash seedlings grow quickly, so provide plenty of light to prevent them from getting leggy. Make sure to harden off your seedlings over about a week before transplanting them outdoors, gradually introducing them to outdoor conditions.

Location, Location, Location: Choose a spot in your garden that receives full sun–that means at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight every single day. These plants are sun worshippers and will produce the best fruits when they get ample light.

Soil Prep is Key: Boston Marrow squash are heavy feeders, so they really appreciate rich, fertile, and well-drained soil. Before planting, amend your chosen spot generously with plenty of aged compost or well-rotted manure. This will provide a steady supply of nutrients throughout their vigorous growth. A soil pH in the range of 6.0-6.5 is ideal.

Sprawling Space: These are vining squash plants, and they love to spread out! Their vines can reach 6-8 feet, or even longer. Give them plenty of room–planting them in “hills” spaced about 8 feet apart, or in rows with plants spaced 8-12 inches apart within the row, and rows 8 feet apart. If you have limited space, you can guide them up a very sturdy trellis or arbor, but be aware that the large fruits will need strong support (like slings made from old pantyhose or fabric) as they grow to prevent them from pulling the vines down.

Water Wisely: Consistent moisture is crucial for healthy squash development, especially during flowering and fruit set. Aim for about 1 inch of water per week, making sure to water deeply at the base of the plants. Avoid overhead watering, as wet foliage can encourage fungal diseases like powdery mildew. A soaker hose or drip irrigation system works wonders for keeping the leaves dry.

Feeding Time: In addition to amending your soil at planting, you can side-dress your plants with more compost or a balanced organic fertilizer every few weeks once they start to vine and produce flowers. Look for a fertilizer that has a slightly lower first number (nitrogen) and higher second number (phosphorus) to encourage fruit production over just leafy growth. Always follow fertilizer package instructions!

Pollination Partners: Boston Marrow squash, like all cucurbits, rely on pollinators (mostly bees!) to transfer pollen between their male and female flowers.⁵ Male flowers typically appear first, followed by female flowers (which have a tiny immature squash at their base). If you notice plenty of flowers but no fruit setting, it might be a pollination issue. You can hand-pollinate by taking a male flower, gently removing its petals, and rubbing its pollen-laden anther onto the sticky stigma of a female flower. It’s a fun little garden chore that ensures a good harvest!

Tips and Tricks:

Mulch Magic: Once your plants are established, apply a generous layer of organic mulch (like straw or wood chips) around the base of the plants and under the sprawling vines. This helps retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and keep the developing squashes clean and off the damp ground, preventing rot.
Pest Patrol: Keep an eye out for common squash pests like squash bugs and squash vine borers. For squash bugs, check the undersides of leaves for clusters of shiny bronze eggs and squish them. For squash vine borers, look for sawdust-like frass at the base of the stems; if you find them, you may be able to surgically remove them with a sharp knife. Companion planting with nasturtiums, radishes, marigolds, or mint can help deter some pests. Floating row covers can protect young plants, but remember to remove them when flowering begins to allow pollinators access.
Harvesting Hints: Boston Marrow squash is winter squash, meaning they are harvested when fully mature. The skin should be hard–you shouldn’t be able to easily pierce it with your fingernail. The vines will likely start to yellow and die back. Harvest before a hard frost, as heavy frost can damage the fruit. Cut the squash from the vine with pruning shears, leaving at least 1-2 inches of stem attached. A longer stem (3-4 inches or even a T-shaped handle) is even better for good storage. Handle the fruits carefully to avoid bruising, which can lead to rot in storage.
Curing for Storage: After harvesting, “cure” your Boston Marrow squashes. This means placing them in a warm (75-85°F or 24-29°C), dry, well-ventilated area for about 10-14 days. Full sun on a patio or a warm, dry garage works well. This process hardens the skin, heals any minor nicks, and improves their storage life and flavor.

Boston Marrow Cuisine:

Boston Marrow squash’s fine texture and balanced sweetness makes it an absolute dream in the kitchen. It truly excels where a smooth, rich squash flavor is desired, particularly in desserts and pureed dishes.

Here’s a delightful recipe that showcases the quintessential use of Boston Marrow:

Classic Boston Marrow Squash Pie

This recipe highlights the creamy, sweet perfection of Boston Marrow, making a pie that rivals any pumpkin pie!

Ingredients:

1 small Boston Marrow squash (or about 2 cups cooked, pureed squash)
1 (9-inch) unbaked pie crust (store-bought or homemade)
1 cup heavy cream (or evaporated milk for a lighter version)
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, lightly beaten

Instructions:

Prepare the Squash: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Carefully cut the Boston Marrow squash in half (you might need a sturdy knife and some muscle!), scoop out the seeds and stringy bits. Place the halves cut-side down on a baking sheet. Roast for 45-60 minutes, or until fork-tender. Let cool slightly. Once cool enough to handle, scoop out the tender flesh and mash or puree it until very smooth. You’ll need about 2 cups.
Prepare the Pie Crust: Press your unbaked pie crust into a 9-inch pie plate. You can crimp the edges decoratively.
Make the Filling: In a large bowl, whisk together the cooked and pureed Boston Marrow squash, heavy cream (or evaporated milk), brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and salt until well combined and smooth.
Add Eggs: Gently whisk in the lightly beaten eggs until just incorporated. Don’t over-mix.
Fill and Bake: Pour the squash filling into the prepared pie crust.
Bake: Place the pie in the preheated 400°F (200°C) oven. Bake for 15 minutes. Then, reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C) and continue baking for another 35-45 minutes, or until the center is just set (a knife inserted near the edge comes out clean, and the center might have a slight jiggle). If the crust starts to brown too quickly, you can cover the edges with foil.
Cool and Serve: Remove the pie from the oven and let it cool completely on a wire rack before slicing and serving. This allows the filling to set properly. Serve plain, or with a dollop of whipped cream!

Summary and Conclusion:

Boston Marrow squash truly is a star in the garden and the kitchen! With its rich history, robust growth, and exceptional flavor, it’s a wonderful addition to any home gardener’s repertoire. It gives you that wonderful feeling of connection to the past while providing a delicious and healthy harvest for today.

Don’t let its size intimidate you; with a little sunshine, good soil, and consistent watering, you’ll be harvesting these magnificent gourds in no time. The joy of pulling a plump, perfectly cured Boston Marrow from your garden, knowing you grew it yourself, is a truly unmatched feeling. So, whether you’re dreaming of classic pies or savory roasts, embark on the delightful journey of growing Boston Marrow squash–you won’t regret bringing this heirloom hero back into your home! Happy growing, my friends!

Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as health, wellness or nutrition advice. Please see our full disclaimers here.

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