North Georgia Candy Roaster Squash

North Georgia Candy Roaster is a Southern heirloom winter squash with a distinctive pink, banana-like shape and a greenish-blue blossom-end mark. Grown on 8 to 10 foot vines, the fruits commonly reach 10 to 15 pounds. Once roasted, they have the highest sugar content of any winter squash, with stringless, creamy flesh excellent for pies, baking, and frying.

At a glance

• Variety: North Georgia Candy Roaster squash (Cucurbita maxima)
• Type: Heirloom winter squash, open-pollinated, non-GMO
• Fruit: Pink banana-style, 10 to 15 lbs
• Vines: 8 to 10 feet, yielding 3 to 6 squash
• Sun: Full sun
• Use: Pies, baking, frying, storage

Best for

• Pies and baked desserts
• Roasting and frying
• Long winter storage
• Sweet, stringless squash dishes
• Gardeners with room for long vines

How to grow

Direct sow after the soil has warmed and frost has passed, or start indoors a few weeks early. Plant in full sun with rich, well-drained soil and give the long vines plenty of space. Cure the mature fruit in a warm, dry spot to deepen sweetness before storing.

Flavor profile

Exceptionally sweet with smooth, creamy, stringless flesh that bakes into rich pies and purees.

About MIgardener

MIgardener is a Michigan-based family company offering affordable, non-GMO heirloom seeds and gardening supplies, with a mission to make growing your own food simple and accessible.