Honey Boat Delicata

Start indoors 3–4 weeks before last frost, plant out 2 weeks after last frost. Start 3 seeds in flats or 4” pots, thin to 1-2 plants. Direct seed after last frost or soil 70˚F. Seeds will rot in cool wet soil. 5-6 seeds to a 12” diameter hill or disturbed area. Can transplant end of last frost with row cover. Cucurbita pepo require a relatively short span of time from planting to ripening fruit than other squash. Cure in warm dry place such as a garage for 1 week after harvest. Pinch new blossoms midsummer to encourage larger set fruit size. Winter squash of C. pepo do not store as well as those of C. maxima or C. moschata and are often known as autumn squash. Hard frost damaged fruit will not store well. Soil pH 5.8-7.0. Hardiness zones 4-11. Annual.

Days from maturity calculated from the date of seeding. Average 176-300 seeds per ounce. Average 15M seeds per acre. Federal germination standard: 75%. Usual seed life: 6 years. Isolation distance for seed saving: 1/2 mile.

Planting Depth 1/2-1”
Soil Temp. Germ. 70-85˚F
Days to Germ. 3-10
Plant Spacing 18-24”
Row Spacing 6’
Days To Maturity 90-100
Full Sun, Moist Well Drained