Gill’s Golden Pippin (Open-pollinated)

(Curcurbita pepo)
Acorn

In general, C. pepo varieties are not considered “long storing.” These include pumpkins (or what Americans call pumpkins), spaghetti, delicata, and acorn types. In general, we recommend these are the types of squash you buy and eat in the fall and early winter. They don’t need to cure and don’t store as long.

However, a few years ago, Adaptive Seeds recommended this little gem and gave us a few seeds to trial. Frankly, we were charmed! Our chef loves its flavor, and we love how long it stores, so it became the token acorn squash in our project.

It doesn't hurt that it is an Oregon heirloom! Introduced in the mid 1900s by Gill Brothers Seed Company in Portland who describe it in their 1964 catalog as “fine variety.” Adaptive Seeds is bringing it back into commercial production in Oregon because as they put it, “it has 5 times the taste of most acorn squash at half the size.”

• very good flavor

• stores well for acorn

• personal-sized fruit growing in popularity

When to Find/Eat: September - January