Ark of Taste Thelma Sanders Squash - Seasonal Grow Kit

• Thelma Sanders Squash typically matures within 80-90 days after transplanting. Harvest when the squash reaches its full size and the skin turns a deep cream or orange color. Use a sharp knife or pruning shears to cut the squash from the vine, leaving a short stem attached.
• Support: Thelma Sanders Squash plants may benefit from support as they grow. Use trellises, stakes, or cages to support the vines and prevent them from sprawling.
• Growing Season: Most fruiting plants have their peak growing season starting in Spring and extending through Fall. They need the warm days and nights to produce fruit.
• Harvest Method: As soon as the plant bears the fruit, harvesting can begin and will continue through the season. Most fruiting plants grow through a season and then are done.
• First Harvest: Fruiting plants take longer to bear fruit and can take 2-3 months to get to a harvesting stage.
• Final Harvest: Occurs at the end of summer and into early Fall for most climates. Some plants, such as strawberries will become dormant in Winter and then pop back into action in the Spring.
• Best Planted Wall Placement: Fruiting plants, like micro-tomatoes and jalapenos, that are smaller can grow on the Planted Wall. Place micro-tomatoes and jalapenos that grow in the Planted Wall near the top so you can maximize sun and warmth during the Summer. Larger fruiting plants are intended to be grown in larger grow pots (i.e. 15 gallon pots)

Most fruiting plants prefer warmer temperatures and will be dormant or grow very slowly in mild winter climates.

You want to be aware of the extreme temperature ranges in your region. If you follow the guidelines below, you will be safe:

COLD CLIMATES

• If you live in a location where the temperatures dip below freezing, then you will want to wait to grow fruiting plants until night temperatures are in the 50's consistently.

WARM CLIMATES:

• If you live where it reaches above 90 degrees consistently, you'll want to grow heat tolerant fruiting plants (tomatoes and peppers) and herbs (basil, mint, rosemary) primarily.

To find out what extreme temperatures your location experiences, check out the USDA zone for your region.

PLEASE NOTE: To keep your new seedlings fresh and safe, we ship in 2 SEPARATE SHIPMENTS. One box for the planter, soil amendments and garden accessories and the other for the certified organic seedlings. 

We ship seedlings directly from our certified organic grower during specific weeks each month to ensure the we are delivering seedlings at the peak of freshness and prime for transplanting. 

Don't worry we tend to over-communicate the details when it comes to logistics.  You'll know when orders (both seedlings and other garden products) are shipped.  

Seed Savers Exchange (SSE) of Decorah, Iowa acquired this variety in 1984 from SSE member and squash collector Tom Knoche of Ohio. Knoche had received the variety from Evert Pettit through the SSE members’ Yearbook. Evert, in turn, received the variety from Mrs. Thelma Sanders of Adair County, Missouri. Pettit seems to be the one who coined the name “Thelma Sanders’ Sweet Potato Squash” when he began offering it to the SSE membership in 1981.In Thelma’s own words from 1980, this squash is “fine meated, better than sweet potatoes.” The variety is a popular offering among the members of SSE and its culinary usage is similar to a typical acorn squash. Some options for preparation are roasting and baking, with the goal of making simple roasted squash or more involved recipes like soup, ravioli, pie or pasta.