Hubbard Squash

True hubbard squash. Albert Swope / OpenPhoto.net / 2013 / CC BY 3.0

Hubbard Squash is now considered more of a term describing a group, though the original one “True Hubbard” is still available. Besides the squashes that have hubbard in their actual names, Boston Marrow, Delicious, Golden Delicious, and Redskin are also hubbard squashes.

Hubbard squash characteristics

The squashes in this group have hard, bumpy skin that ranges in colour from from greyish-blue to grey to orange to green (dark or light.) The shape of squashes in this group may vary from tear-dropped to more flattened tear drop.

Inside, they have sweet, orangish-yellow, somewhat grainy flesh that can be softer to cut than other squash such as acorn or butternut. The taste is also less sweet than acorn or butternut.

As some hubbard-type squashes are very large, they are often sold cut into smaller pieces.

Hubbard squashes are a winter squash.

Cooking Tips

Good boiled and mashed or served in chunks. Also good puréed and made into pumpkin pies — the flesh cooks up firmer and sweeter than many actual pumpkins do.

Substitutes

Another squash

Storage Hints

Uncut, store in cool place for up to 6 months. Once cut, refrigerate.

History Notes

Hubbard squash was first recorded in Marblehead, Massachusetts as arriving there in 1798, either from the West Indies or South America. It was named by nurseryman James J.H. Gregory  (1827-1910) of Marblehead after an Elizabeth Hubbard of Massachusetts, who had introduced him to the squash.

Gregory received an award in 1860 for the squash from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. It was the hubbard squash that launched his career as a nurseryman.

Literature & Lore

“Of the origin of the Hubbard squash we have no certain knowledge. The facts relative to its cultivation in Marblehead are simply these. Upwards of twenty years ago, a single specimen was brought into town, the seed from which was planted in the garden of a lady, now deceased; specimen from this yield was given to Captain Knott Martin, of this town, who raised it for family use for a few years when it was brought to our notice in the year 1842, or ’43. We were first informed of its good qualities by Mrs Elizabeth Hubbard, a very worthy lady, through whom we obtained seed from Captain Martin. As the squash, up to this time, had no specific name to designate it from other varieties, my father termed it ‘hubbard squash.'” — James J.H. Gregory in The Magazine of Horticulture, 23 December 1857.

Types of Hubbard Squash

Baby Blue Hubbard Squash

Baby blue hubbard squash is a smaller version of blue hubbard squash. Its yellow flesh is finely textured with a rich taste.

Baby Green Hubbard Squash

Baby Green Hubbard Squash grows to be about 6 inches (15 cm) wide by 5 inches (12 ½ cm) tall, and weigh about 3 pounds (1.4 kg.) It is round, though pointy at the top and bottom. The thin rid has slight ribbing and is dark green with pale green flecks....

Blue Hubbard Squash

Blue hubbard squash is gourd or pear-shaped, with silvery bluish-green rough rind with moderate ribbing. The deepness of the blue will vary. The squash grows to be about 35 cm (13 inches) wide by 63 cm (25 inches) tall, and weigh 7 to 20 ½ kg...

Boston Marrow Squash

Boston Marrow squash are oval with pointed ends. They have finely-textured, orangey-yellow flesh inside. They can grow quite large, which makes them nice for stuffing for a meal to feed a crowd.

Chicago Warted Hubbard Squash

Chicago Warted Hubbard Squash are round, with rough, warty, very hard rind. The rind is a dark olive-green colour, with some greyish-green stripes frequently appearing at the blossom end where there's a bit of a point, ripening to a brown coloured rind. Inside,...

Golden Delicious Squash

Golden Delicious Squash are tall and oval, with orange skin, and thick, finely-textured, yellowish-orange flesh that is not watery. The squash can weigh 8 to 14 pounds (3 ½ to 6 ⅓ kg.) Vine-type plant. 95 to 100 days from seed. Cooking Tips...

Golden Hubbard Squash

Golden Hubbard Squash has a very tough, dark-orange rind. Inside, the finely-textured flesh is dry, not watery.

Green Hubbard Squash

Green hubbard squashes are large squashes with a dark green rind. The golden flesh is dry and finely-textured with a sweet taste.

Hubba Hubba Squash

Hubba Hubba Squash are a miniature Hubbard squash. They have bright orange rind, and weigh around 1 kg each (2 to 2 ½ pounds). Hybrid bush type plant. 95 days from seed.

Little Gem Hubbard Squash

Little Gem Hubbard Squash are very small squash the size of an orange, and with hard, dark orange skin. They have finely-textured flesh that is not watery.

Warted Hubbard Squash

Warted Hubbard Squash has the classic Hubbard teardrop shape, pointed at both ends. It has very bumpy, warty, thick dark-green or orange skin, with yellowish-orange thick flesh inside. It grows up to 30 pounds (13 ½ kg) in weight. Storage Hints Stores...