Winter squash 'Black Futsu'

When the seedlings are young they are vulnerable to pests like squash bugs (stink bugs). An application of wood ashes helped to ward off any further attacks.

Try to plant in a location that enjoys partial sun and remember to water moderately. Keep in mind when planting that Black Futsu is thought of as tender, so it is really important to plant out well after your last frost date. Try to keep the ph of your soil between the range of 6.1 and 7.5 as Black Futsu likes to be in weakly acidic soil - weakly alkaline soil.

Sow at a depth of approx. 1.17 inches (3.0 cm) and aim for a distance of at least 2.28 feet (70.0 cm) between Winter squash plants. Soil temperature should be kept higher than 15°C / 59°F to ensure good germination.

By our calculations, you should look at sowing Black Futsu about 10 days before your last frost date.

Ensure that temperatures are mild and all chance of frost has passed before planting out, as Black Futsu is a tender plant.

Black fruits get three to eight pounds each.

This variety tends to be ready for harvesting by late summer.