Agricultural Information:

Plant Family: Cucurbitaceae
Scientific name: Cucurbita maxima / moschata

Winter Squash plants are grown annually and are native to the Americas. Plants consist of sprawling vines with large leaves and tendrils that can climb trellis’. Fruits are harvested when mature with thick rinds that allows for it to be stored for extended periods, often through the winter months.

There are hundreds of varieties of winter squash showcasing a wide range of shapes, sizes, and colors. Some common varieties are butternut, acorn, spaghetti and delicata squash.

Winter squash is consumed cooked and is often roasted, baked, or pureed in soups, stews, pies, and casseroles.

Halachic Information:

Kilei zera’im & kilei hakerem (interplanting: annuals & grapevines): Winter Squash have a high tendency to spread in fields. Some opinions state that a distance of two cubits (approx. 1 m) must be maintained from other species in all directions. If planting two different gourd species, the required separation is four cubits (approx. 2 m). This distance must also be maintained from grapevines.