Renee's Garden - We think that our Kurin Kabocha is the most scrumptious of all long-keeping winter squash. Kurin’s intensely orange flesh has a moist, fluffy texture and truly outstanding nutty-sweet, buttery flavor. Besides being absolutely delicious, kabochas are chock full of natural vitamin A, antioxidants, and phytonutrients. These beauties are a breeze to grow; you can even easily train them up a trellis. Once harvested, the squashes will keep for months.
Characteristics:
Long keeper with a fluffy texture
A sweet, nutty flavor
Easy to grow
Instructions - Long-keeping winter squash needs full sun, rich fertile soil, and warm temperatures. Wait to plant until nights are comfortably above 50°F both day and night. Sow groups of 2 to 3 seeds 2 ft. apart and 1 in. deep in rows 4 ft. apart. Thin to 1 strong seedling per group to give vines room to ramble or climb. Or make slightly mounded hills 2 to 3 ft. across and 6 ft. apart and plant 4 to 5 seeds in each hill. When seedlings have several sets of leaves, thin to the strongest 3 seedlings per hill. Protect young seedlings from marauding birds by covering them with plastic berry baskets at sowing time, and removing them before plants get crowded. To save space, vines can be trained up fences, trellises, or tepees. Winter squashes need to mature properly, so don’t harvest until vines have died back and the squashes’ exterior rinds are fully dark green and tough enough to resist piercing with a fingernail. Then cut squashes from vines, leaving a good stem handle. Cure in the sun for about 10 days, before storing in a cool dry place where they will keep for months.
- Plant in May-June for cold winters; April-June for mild winters
- Full Sun
- Space seeds in rows 4 feet apart; hills in 6"
- 7-10 days to germinate
- 95 days to harvest
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers due to availability.
