Thelma Sanders Squash
Item Details
(aka Thelma Sanders Sweet Potato) Originally from Thelma Sanders of Kirksville, Missouri. The seed was passed from Evert Pettit to Sue and Tom Knoche, Ohio squash collectors. All these seed stewards were among Seed Savers Exchange’s earliest members. Wonderful cream-colored acorn squash. Sweet chestnut flavor, enormously productive. Thelma described this good keeper as ‘better than sweet potatoes.’
- 85-90 days
- Organic
- Winter squash
- Cream colored acorn squash
- Sweet chestnut flavor
- Extremely productive
This variety works for:
- Baking
- Roasting
- Soups
- Pie
- Storage
To prepare your squash, rinse the exterior and then cut in half and remove the seeds before baking, roasting, etc.
Winter squash can be pureed and sweetened as an addition to breads, muffins, cakes and pies. Diced and roasted squash can be tossed in warm salads of grains and nuts or with sautéed kale.
Summer squash are best eaten when they are small and the seeds are immature. Sliced thinly, summer squash are used in gratins and savory pies or sautéed or breaded and fried.
Growing Instructions
Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors in 12" diameter hills after danger of frost has passed. Hills should be spaced 6' apart in all directions. Can also be started indoors 3 weeks before transplanting out.
- Direct Seed: 1" Deep
- Seeds to Hill: 6-8 Seeds
- Thin: To 3-4 Plants
- Light: Full Sun
Ratings & Reviews
6 reviews
Grew all on their own.
by Jennifer
I planted these in an out of the way corner behind a building and forgot about them. Then in the fall I discovered tons of squash all over and they were delicious. We used them in acorn squash recipes and they were perfect and they stored for months in our basement.
Prolific and great tasting!
by Heather B
I grew these in a first year garden with clay soil and no real watering besides rain, direct sown in zone 5b. They were prolific, sprawling through rows of leeks and edamame:) I cured them outdoors for a couple weeks after they were ripe and so far it's almost January and no rotting at all. The flavor is sweeter than butternut squash, I use them for pie and savory baked acorn squash recipes. I will always grow these!!
Buying again. We love these.
by drdp
We tried these last year for the first time and love them! Here to order again. These are delicious, prolific all summer long, and keep well. These were the last of our squash to succumb to the variety of squash bugs. Also, it is nice because it is easy to see them on the vine as they are growing.
Delicious
by Phillip
Thelma is a traveler, so be prepared for vines to roam but the squash is well worth it. We finally ate the last Thelmas last week of February and they were harvested in October. Good amount of nutty flavored flesh great for just baking and eating. We think there will always be a place for Thelma in our garden.
BUY THESE
by Hope
Holy moly Batman! These squash plants THRIVE in all conditions, I planted six and they each had at least 4 squash on them before any other variety even flowered! These should be in every garden!
It’s good but not great.
by TSav
First year growing these. My favorite squash is buttercup so I was intrigued by the “better than sweet potatoes” comment. But, for me, the flesh tastes and looks like acorn squash. It’s watery and light on flavor. It doesn’t stew or pan fry well (like sweet potatoes). It’s not good mashed or scooped from the skin as a side dish…too watery and needs a lot more than just salt. If you like adding butter, sugar, or other items to squash, then maybe this will work for you. It does make a great bread but I could grow pie pumpkins just as well. Sorry Thelma.