Help to bring back an heirloom variety of squash from the brink of extinction while you reap a harvest of large, round squash that can be used in recipes for summer or winter squash. Hopi Grey squash (Cucurbita maxima) is an annual squash that needs a lot of summer heat for the 110 to 120 days it takes from planting until harvest. This plant also needs a lot of space in your yard to sustain the large squash that the vine produces.
The fruit from the Hopi Grey squash weighs 10 pounds when fully grown. This light gray squash has a round shape, like a basketball. When ready for harvest, the shell will be extremely hard. Since this squash has a hard shell, it retains moisture during storage well. Cure the squash in a warm, humid location for two weeks to prolong storage. Kept in a cool place with moderate humidity levels between 60 and 70 percent, this squash will stay good in storage for up to six months.
For a plant to grow such a large squash, it needs a large plant system with enough foliage to provide food for the growing squash. The Hopi Grey squash can grow up to 3 feet across and 18 inches tall. Use this information when planting to properly space your seedlings in the ground. Allow at least a 2-by-2-foot square per plant to ensure that your squash has enough space to spread out in your garden.