Gilbertson Kindred

“This is a really tasty squash, a very sweet, delicious squash. I can’t have enough of it,” says Matthew Wallace of Grand Forks, North Dakota, who began stewarding this squash in 2015. Matt got its seed from his parents, Russell and Edith Wallace of Warwick, ND. They got theirs from Russell’s sister, Laurel (Wallace) Reuter of Grand Forks, ND, in 1989, who got them from its breeder Benjamin Gilbertson (1896-1991) of Kindred, ND, also in 1989. Mr. Gilbertson was well-known for developing peony varieties, Linden trees, and squashes. His ‘Kindred’ squash was awarded a bronze medal by the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) in 1969, sponsor of the All-America Selection (AAS) trials. The city of Kindred, ND, dedicated a park in his honor in the mid-1980s. The ‘Gilbertson Kindred’ has distinct characteristics and a different story. Matt donated this variety to SSE in 2022.