Summer Squash, Manteca

We identified Manteca (PI 442321) as a pepo squash with high resistance to Plectosporium Blight and good resistance to Downy Mildew in a large, duplicated trial in the summer of 2023, funded by a SARE grant. It is a landrace variety, originally from Ignacio de la Llave, Veracruz, Mexico and collected by the USDA in 1979. Our original seed was obtained from the USDA-ARS seedbank via the GRIN network. Manteca plants are vigorous vining plants with vines up to 20’. Plants do well in drought conditions as well as in humid conditions with high disease pressure. Manteca squash are a light mint green and have a bulbous end that tapers slightly at the stem end. They can be harvested up to 6” long. They are quite nutty, and our favorites for eating! 38 days from TP