Cornell's Bush Delicata Squash

Certified Organic

Cucurbita pepo

Perfect for large containers and small spaces.

This compact variety has all the perks of a great delicata: it's the first winter squash to ripen; it has sweet, firm flesh; and its flavor is exceptional. Though it is not as bush in habit as some zucchinis, the short internodes in its growth habit lead to a very compact form, making it suitable for growing in a large container or smaller garden space. (After its first flush of fruit set, it may start to vine a bit more, but these growing tips can easily be trimmed away, as they usually won't lead to additional squash.) Expect anywhere from 2-5 ripe fruits from each plant.

This unique squash is the product of a Cornell University breeding project lead by Molly Jahn and George Moriarty. Although the breeding of this variety was focused on agronomically important traits such as bush habit and powdery mildew resistance, Jahn talks about the breeding process as an art form. Thanks to Molly's successor at Cornell, Michael Mazourek, we are returning this variety to its roots by propagating seeds from the original breeding project, continuing to select for prolific production and healthy plants.

Shop with confidence: we are now shipping seeds labeled for 2025 planting.

$4.79

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Art Pack / Organic / 30 seeds $4.79 In Stock

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To start indoors, sow one seed per cell. Transplant when seedlings have one healthy set of true leaves. Or, direct sow in clumps of 2-3 seeds, thinning to the strongest seedling. Harvest fruits when they have obtained full deep yellow color. Bush habit, suitable for smaller spaces or a large container.

Days to Germination 3-14 days
Days to Maturity 80 days
Planting Depth 1 inch
Spacing in Row 36 inches
Spacing Between Rows 36 inches
Height at Maturity 32 inches
Width at Maturity 36 inches

Sarah Paolucci is a fine artist and illustrator living in Hartford, CT. She has a series of work that is purely focused on hands and creating. Her work has been featured in numerous juried shows including the Oil Painter's Society of America. Sarah has an MFA degree in illustration from the Hartford Art School.

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