North Carolina Candy Roaster Squash
A sweet squash with a rich history.
Distinctly Sweet
The Candy Roaster Squash, named for its distinctively sweet flavor, is a vibrant pink and orange fall vegetable. Often referred to as "banana squash" because of its elongated, curved shape and yellow-orange hues, it stands out as a delicious and visually striking variety. The Candy Roaster squash showcases a beautiful array of colors, including shades of pink, tan, green, gray, and even blue. Versatile in variety and in the kitchen, it can be baked, boiled, or roasted, and is particularly beloved in soups. Its natural sweetness is so rich that it can even stand in for sugar in pie recipes.
An Indigenous Heirloom
Grown today primarily in the Appalachian region—ancestral lands of the Cherokee Nation—the Candy Roaster was first cultivated by the Cherokee who cherished it for its ability to sustain them through the winter, and grow sweeter with time. It is still grown by some Indigenous and North Carolinian farmers, often using traditional techniques like the "Three Sisters" method, where corn, beans, and squash are planted together to support one another’s growth.
The Cherokee people cultivate the crop due not only to its uniquely sweet flavor, but also because the Candy Roaster Squash has a shelf life spanning months, and can withstand the winter frost. In fact, the taste is sweetest when the squash is given multiple months to reach peak ripeness. Once a staple crop of the Cherokee people, its cultivation declined significantly after the 1800s due to the impact of colonialism and decline of family farms. Today, both Indigenous and North Carolinian farmers are reviving the Candy Roaster squash, not only to share its uniquely sweet, fall-harvested flavor with the world, but also to celebrate and preserve Cherokee culture and heritage through the revitalization of this historic seed.
Explore the Qualla Boundary
“Every seed has a story.”
— Harold and Nancy Long, Eastern Band Cherokee Farmers
Visit the linked story to learn more about how Edible Ashville is telling the story of the Candy Roaster seed.
Despite the efforts of indigenous and NC farmers, the protection of this esteemed squash, and the availability of its seeds are a concern. On top of the colonial and institutional pressures that have diminished the cultivation of the Candy Roaster Squash seed, the Candy Roaster is open pollinated. This means the squash can cross pollinate with any other variety of Cucurbita maxima up to a mile away, and create unintended hybrids. This threatens the biodiversity of the squash, and poses a significant challenge to those small farmers trying to produce authentic Candy Roasters to provide for their community and represent their culture.
The Candy Roasters Colorful Legacy
Candy Roasters are notorious for having a shocking diversity of varieties. Over 40 to be exact. This is primarily due to the fact they are one subspecies of the Cucurbita maxima, commonly known as winter squash, one of the most diverse domesticated species in the world. This means they can open pollinate with any other Cucurbita maxima. This makes it extremely challenging to keep the cultivar, developed by the Cherokee, pure.
Candy Roasters can be very big…up to 15 pounds big, and up to 2 feet long.
That’s about the weight of a bowling ball!
The large, sweet, long lasting varieties of candy roaster indigenous farmers bred
Other Cucurbita maxima susceptible to cross pollination…
Garden Friendly
Because the candy roaster is so vulnerable to genetic loss due to open pollination, it is not commercially grown, but encouraged by seed savers in western NC to be cultivated at home gardens to preserve the natural and cultural heritage of the seed, as well as its uniquely delicious flavor.
How to grow:
If you're in the right spot, Candy Roasters are hearty growers that require little maintenance. This is as long as they get a rich compost or fertilization to start, as squash are heavy feeders. They require regular watering until sprouted, and then they are pretty carefree. They take about 100 days to mature, and then are ready to be harvested and stored… the longer the better!
Step 1: Prepare soil with a rich compost or alternative amendment
Step 2: Make a small hill, just like with other squash.
Step 3: Plant 3-4 Candy Roaster seeds 1inch deep into the hill, if sowing various plantings, plant about 6 inches apart.
Step 4: Water regularly until sprouted
Growing Tips:
After the sprout has emerged and watering becomes less frequent, it can be helpful to add a layer of mulch to the hill to lock in moisture.
Adding another layer of compost or other amendment once or twice can also be beneficial for the hungry squash.
Step 5: Harvest after the vine dies back, and before 1st frost!
Once harvested, store in a cool dry place for around 5 months for peak ripeness. Some may store for even longer!
Where to Buy Seeds:
Long Family Farm and Gallery:
Long Family Farm is a 40-acre Cherokee Indian Family Farm growing a variety of fruits and heirloom vegetables using organic practices
You can easily order Candy Roaster Squash seeds online from various seed companies and organizations. Here we’ve highlighted 2 farmers/ seed producers who prioritize the sustainability of this heirloom seed and the cultural importance of its production. Another great way to get your hands on Candy Roaster seed is to find a NC farmer who cultivates the squash for market and dry seeds on your own, or ask if they’re willing to share!
True Love Seeds:
“Truelove Seeds is a farm-based seed company offering culturally important and open pollinated vegetable, herb, and flower seeds. Our seeds are grown by more than 50 small-scale urban and rural farmers committed to community food sovereignty, cultural preservation, and sustainable agriculture.”
Grower Highlight!
Zephyr Family Farm is a young Naturally Grown producer of NC Candy Roaster Squash, among many other delightful crops.
“Located in Wake County, we grow southern heirlooms and crops that do well in our changing climate. We really focus on growing healthy soil, healthy plants follow.”
You can find the Zephyrs at the Western Wake Farmers Market, and the Briar Chapel Farmers Market where they market Candy Roasters Every Year!
Squashed full of Nutrients
Candy Roaster Squash are an excellent source of Vitamin A, C, and Fiber. They also contain lower levels of B vitamins, iron, calcium, and potassium.
Vitamin A, B and C, iron, calcium, and potassium are all essential nutrients we need for immune, blood, and digestive health.
Eating Candy Roaster Squash is a great way to diversify your diet with a unique cultivar. Diversity in nutrition is one of the best ways to prevent chronic diseases. Not to mention the joy and health that comes from trying new foods and enjoying a variety of fruits and vegetables!
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