Long of Naples Squash

I planted them in a new flower & veg bed this spring, not quite realizing how huge they would get. The plants were long trailing and spreading, huge leaves, thick stems, and produced enormous fruits. And the bugs left them alone. They kind of mauled the other plants in the bed so next year they will get a different place. I have over 20 of these squashes, the smallest so far was 18 lbs. I just dragged in a 40-pounder that I had to cook in stages as the whole thing wouldn't fit in the oven. Plus they have a coolness factor. There's just something very satisfying about dragging huge squashes in! Nice mostly firm orange flesh (firmer the longer you leave it on the vine). One squash could feed a family for days. There are a few more on the vines that probably won't mature as we are nearing the end of growing season here. I will definitely grow those again.

I had great success with these. Very prolific and HUGE. The biggest one I got was 20.8Kg (45 lbs!!). Very good for soups etc. I am not sure what I am going to do with so many HUGE and delicious pumpkins. I think I will try pies, muffins, freezing, etc. I grew them on a trellis and I also had some that climbed my lemon trees. Not sure when is the right time to harvest. I have several still on the trellis (Mid may is mid fall here). I have harvested those that were oldest or that fell of the trellis due to the weight.

Biggest squash I have ever grown, Trouble free, when your give them lots of water and feedings, Mark the base of the vine with a stake or you will lose track of where to water it, This vine has prolific leaves that are also huge, I spray Neem oil and hand pick to keep the bugs down. The squash has solid flesh inside, down to the bulbous base which is the seed cavity, not stringy, VERY tasty. mine kept for 5 months at room temperature, then got soft at the stem end, I cut it off and the rest was fine. This one has a space in our garden from here on!

I won FIRST place in my county fair for this one! It was beautiful and unusual. It grows later than other winter squash, but once it starts it just keeps making more. Does well even with squash bugs and SVB which I have a lot of here. Plant is one of the farthest reaching I have seen. Need space!

Well its still very early for us with these. We have 23 out of the 25 seeds to germinate. I am in central alabama in very sandy loam soil in a ph 0f 7. The squash are planted on hills 4 to a hill and caged since deer like to see what is on the menu every night. The squash have been transplanted for a week and a half. they have endured fire ants and are beginning to get going...still slow at this point...dedicated 90 x 60 feet to these. will keep posted