Well, the beavers must have known something because it’s snowing again, right after another seven inches of new snow! Will plowed the driveway yesterday and it looks like it’ll be a repeat tomorrow. (Was that a beaver snicker I heard while I was out doing chores this morning?) Will and our friend Eric are going to pick up the new-to-us tractor we bought Monday. (Well the Credit Union bought it and now we make payments. But we did manage to pay off our last money owed on our Hud-Son bandsaw mill.) We had a square baler but we use a lot of big round bales to feed the horses and cattle through the winter. We bought a big round baler last winter but our Ford 660 doesn’t have enough horsepower to use it. We had been hiring baling done by our neighbor but after all, he’s well into his late eighties and is still haying around 2,000 acres and can’t always help us out when our hayfields are ready. So we thought we’d better become more hay-self-reliant.

While the guys are picking up the tractor, I’m saving seed and canning our big Hopi Pale Grey squash. Many of you have requested seed and sent SASE padded envelopes for the seed I’ll give you. But the dry seed went and now I need to dry some more to fill your orders. It’ll be a few days but you’ll soon get your seed.

There is some confusion over just what a Hopi Pale Grey squash looks and tastes like as the Baker Creek squash labeled Hopi Pale Grey doesn’t seem to be the same as the Hopi Pale Grey I’ve grown for decades. There ARE several different Hopi squash: green, black, and the pale gray. We love the pale grey the best.

Hopi-Pale-Grey-01

The Hopi Pale Grey is a medium-sized light powder-blue/gray squash, often oval shaped. It always has a “belly button” on the blossom end. The meat is light to medium orange. The seeds are fat and bountiful. The squash is sweet and has few strings. I even grate it on salads and use the dehydrated slices, ground, in my mixed grain breads. It stores so well that we’ve had several stay fine after storing more than two years on our bedroom floor!

Hopi-Pale-Grey-02

I’ll give free seeds to anyone who wishes to grow them and maintain pure seed by not growing any other C. maxima pumpkins or squash as they will cross. We want to save this wonderful squash from extinction. — Jackie

22 COMMENTS

  1. Sam,

    Check out above responses to see how to get seed. Yep, I think they’ll grow in SC pretty well.

  2. Don Petrey,

    Kids, kids, kids! I’ll set right to work, packing up a ton of our new snow so you don’t get too hot up in Alaska!!!

  3. GA,

    I’ve never had squash vine borers in my Hopi Pale Greys so I don’t know. They certainly can be a problem requiring total clean-up in the garden and burning all dead squash and pumpkin vines every year and attacking any borers at first sight.

  4. Tauna,

    Yes, I can my squash in chunks. About a pint will make one “pumpkin” pie, when drained and mashed well. I’ll post a picture on the next blog I do for you.

  5. Debbie & others,

    To get Hopi Pale Grey squash seeds, send a padded SASE to the magazine and they’ll forward groups of requests on to us and I’ll send you seeds until I’m out. When I run out, I’ll post a notice.

  6. Matt, Cindy and Brenda,

    I’m glad your Baker Creek Hopi Pale Grey squash were the traditional Hopi PGs. I totally LOVE Baker Creek seeds and am getting together my order for a wide variety again this year.

  8. jacqueline,

    Just send a padded SASE to the magazine and they’ll forward bunches of requests on to me so I can send you some seeds as long as they last.

  9. Pat,

    I’m not sure what your’re asking; the price, attachements? We paid $4,600 for it and it came with a snow bucket, gravel bucket, bale spear for big round bales and an angle blade for the front end. We’ve already used to to move hay and I think it’s going to be a big help around the place.

  10. Hey Jackie, what do i need to do to get some Hope squash seed from you, do you think they will grow in SC? thanks

  12. Jackie,
    How resistant are these to squash vine borers? I can’t seem to get anything to outwit the bugs in my garden.
    Thanks.
    Greta

  13. I would love a few seeds to grow this summer on our homestead, please send your address and I will send a sase, Thanks

  15. Jackie, I’d like a few of the squash seeds. Can you tell me your mailing address and how much postage to affix?

  16. Thank you for your pictures!! That Hopi squash is the same color as mine , inside and out. I got my seeds a year ago from Baker’s heirloom. Now I am trying to save mine. My husband really liked this squash. He has only eaten Acorn and I convinced him to try Hopi and he liked it even better!!

    I hear those Beavers snicker way down here every time I am out shoveling!!! (which of course is a lot lately!)

  17. Your pic of the Hopi Pale Grey looks like my mature squash the I grew from Baker Creek Seed purchased spring of 2012. It grew in isolation and no other C max’s in the garden have saved the seed and will plant again this year. The mature squash had same colored meat as yours, no strings, and how sweet it was. The all had a belly button on the ends, the mature ones were very heavy and large ovals, a pretty blue grey color. Thanks for all the pics and info on the HPG. We really love it and will continue to grow them here.

  18. You are so kind to share these seeds with us. I sent you a padded envelope this past weekend. Now I’m worried that I didn’t put enough postage on the return envelope, as I only attached one stamp to it. It seemed so light that I didn’t think it would need more, even with some seeds inside it. If it costs more to send it, I will surely reimburse you for the postage.

  19. Hello I have not seen this variety anywhere and the storage life alone is worth the preservation and I would be happy to accept seed to grow.

  20. Be safe in the storm that is on its way to you! I know you are prepared more than most in the path of the storm. Take care and let us know how the storm affects you and your corner of the world.

  22. Your picture of Hopi Pale Grey looks just like what I get when I have used Baker Heirloom seeds. Admittedly I haven’t bought new seed from them the last three years, just keep saving and sowing what I have.

Comments are closed.