Photo: "Cucurbita kabocha o kabutiá o tipo Tetsukabuto" by RoRo · CC0 1.0

Kabocha · Heirloom-kabocha

Delica kabocha squash

Vine · Cucurbitaceae

Delica is an heirloom Japanese kabocha with dark green skin and notably dry, sweet flesh that bakes and steams into a dense chestnut-like texture. It is distinct from orange-skinned hybrid Sunshine Kabocha and is favored by gardeners who want a richer, drier winter squash. The crop suits growers who can give a long vine room to run and enough season to fully cure fruit.

At a Glance

Days to Maturity

95–110 days

Sun

8+ hours

full sun 8-10 hours

Spacing

24–48 "

Seed Start

3–4 weeks

before transplant

Container

Not Ideal

15+ gallon pot

Height

1–2 ft

Zone Planting Guide

Your USDA Zone:

Growing Guide

Germination

Germination Time 5–12 days

Optimal Temp 85°F

Seed Depth 0.5"

Transplanting

Min Soil Temp 65°F

Harden Off 5 days

Watering

Weekly Water 1.5–2 "

Needs Consistent

Method Drip

Soil

pH Range 6–6.8

Soil Type Warm, well-drained, fertile soil high in compost with plenty of root room.

Resilience

Heat: High Cold: Low Drought: Moderate

Common Problems

powdery-mildew

Cause: Dense foliage and late-season humidity encourage mildew on leaves.

Prevention: Space well, avoid overhead watering when possible, and remove badly infected leaves.

poor-pollination

Cause: Cool, rainy, or very hot weather reduces bee activity and flower fertility.

Prevention: Hand-pollinate early flowers if needed and plant pollinator-friendly flowers nearby.

cucumber-beetle

Cause: Cucurbit-feeding beetles damage seedlings and can vector bacterial wilt.

Prevention: Use row cover until bloom and inspect young plants often.

Nutrition

Feeding Intensity Moderate feeder

Recommended Recipes Root drench

Harvest

Harvest when skins turn fully dark and hard, rinds resist fingernail pressure, and the stem corks over.

Expected Yield 8–15 lbs/plant

Storage 90 days — Cure warm and dry, then store cool and dry with good airflow.

Sources

seed_catalog Takii Seed seed_catalog University of Maryland Extension university University extension

Delica kabocha squash Planting Dates by Zone

Planting dates for Delica kabocha squash vary by USDA hardiness zone. Select your zone below for frost dates, start-indoors timing, and a full monthly planting calendar.

Zone 5A Zone 5B Zone 6A Zone 6B Zone 7A Zone 7B Zone 8A Zone 8B Zone 9A Zone 9B

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