Candystick Dessert Delicata squash
$4.00 – $7.00
(Cucurbita pepo)
Sweet little squash with fruity flavour definitely deserves the “dessert” in its name. Some say this delicata tastes like dates; we don’t know about that, but we do know that we could not get enough of them! Bred by Carol Deppe in Oregon, this is not a long-storing squash; it is best enjoyed within a couple months of harvest. But it is also at its peak of sweetness before the real winter squash are at their best, so it complements something like butternut perfectly. 120 days to maturity. OSSI pledged; 20 seeds/packet.
Start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, with 1-2 seeds per pot 1/2” deep and thin to strongest plant. Can also direct seed after frost in late May- early June. Plant three plants per hill, 5′ apart. Topdress with manure. If planting with corn and beans, plant in separate hills between rows of corn hills at same time as corn. Before frost, harvest squash, leaving a stub of stem several inches long; cure indoors for several weeks to a month. Store at room temperature.