Summer squash 'Delicata'

Cucurbita pepo

How to grow Summer squash 'Delicata'

  • Full Sun

  • High

Plant about 6 to 8 seeds per hill spacing hills 3 to 4 feet apart.

Thinning: Thin or transplant to 3 healthiest plants per hill. Leave 18 to 24 in. between plants in rows.

Grow in sunny location with rich, somewhat moist well drained soil.

Harvest and enjoy the earliest fruit, save later maturing fruit for winter harvest. Gather before frost leaving part of the stem attached. Store in a cool dry place.

Try to plant in a location that enjoys full sun and remember to water often. Delicata is generally regarded as a tender plant, so remember to ensure that temperatures are mild before moving outdoors. Delicata needs a loamy soil with a ph of 6.1 to 7.5 (weakly acidic soil to weakly alkaline soil).

Growing Delicata from seed

Keep Soil moderately moist during germination.

Aim to sow 0.78 inches (2.0 cm) deep and try to ensure a gap of at least 1.46 feet (45.0 cm). For optimal germination, soil temperature should be a minimum of 18°C / 64°F.

By our calculations, you should look at sowing Delicata about 14 days after your last frost date.

Transplanting Delicata

Seed directly into the garden in late spring after weather has warmed and all danger of frost has passed. Seeds can be also started in individual peat pots indoors or in the greenhouse 2 to 3 weeks before setting out.

Delicata is tender, so ensure you wait until all danger of frost has passed in your area before considering planting outside.

Harvesting Delicata

This variety tends to mature and be ready for harvest in mid autumn.

Summer squash Delicata Etymology

Delicata is an heirloom Italian squash with sweet flavoured flesh and soft skin.
Helpers and Wiki editors—Please note that the hybrid squash ‘Sweet Dumpling’ does not belong connected to this entry for heirloom Delicata!
Sweet dumpling hybrid squash is not the heirloom Delicata.
It is a hybrid squash created by crossing Acorn with Delicata, and some other unknown squashes.

Other Names for Summer squash 'Delicata'

Sweet potato squash, zeppelin squash, Delicata italian

Footnotes

Ed Hume Seed Packet