Last edited by shiny on November 08, 2026. View history
Delicata Squash
A variety of Cucurbita pepo
How to sow delicata squash: Direct seed in groups of 2, thin to 1 plant when seedling have 2 sets of adult leaves
Sun requirement for delicata squash: Plant in Full Sun
Delicata is an oblong, cylindrical, cream-colored squash with green and sometimes orange stripes. Like all squash, it grows on vines. It has deep orange flesh that tastes like a sweet potato, but sweeter. Delicata is consumed as a winter squash, but is actually in the same species as summer squash: Cucurbita pepo.
Delicata is delicious roasted, baked, sauteed, or steamed. When roasted or baked, the rind can be eaten as well.
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Delicata squash facts
Lifespan
Height × spread
30cm × 80cmRow Spacing
90cmCrop cycle
Max altitude
Optimal light
What are growing degree days?
A plant grows with warmth, not with days. A growing degree day is one day's worth of useful warmth: how many degrees the day's average temperature is above the lowest temperature the crop grows at. Add them up from planting and you know how far along the crop is, whatever the calendar says.
Say that lowest temperature is 10°C. A day averaging 17°C gives 7 growing degree days. A day averaging 8°C gives none, as it is too cold for the crop to grow. That is why the same lettuce takes about 50 days in a summer and 90 in an autumn: it needs the same total warmth either way.
For delicata squash, the FAO EcoCrop database gives a lowest growing temperature of 6°C and a shortest growing cycle of 40 days at its best temperature, about 700 growing degree days to a first harvest.
Where you've told us where your garden is, we use this and the weather there to predict when your delicata squash will be ready to harvest. We don't use it for how long a plant lives or when it finishes: we go by what members have logged for that.
How members grow delicata squash
Sunniness
Planted from
Plant delicata squash with
icicle radish
chives
Photos
Photos
Delicata squash plantings
Delicata squash harvests
Delicata squash seeds
Video
Where delicata squash grow
Only plantings by members who have set their locations are shown.
What people are saying about delicata squash
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Who's planted delicata squash
- Storm Garden · Portland, Oregon
Storm
Delicata squash harvests
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Time to harvest
If sown now, expect a first harvest in about 40 to 100 days.
From the growing cycle in the FAO EcoCrop database, which is the same wherever it is grown.
Ecological requirements
Data from the FAO EcoCrop database for Cucurbita pepo L.
| Family / Taxonomy | Magnoliopsida Dilleniidae Violales Cucurbitaceae |
|---|---|
| Life form | herb, vine |
| Life span | annual |
| Habit | climber/scrambler/scadent |
| Optimal soil depth | medium (50-150 cm) |
| Optimal soil texture | medium, organic |
| Optimal soil fertility | moderate |
| Optimal soil drainage | well (dry spells) |
| Optimal soil salinity | low (<4 dS/m) |
| Photoperiod | short day (<12 hours), neutral day (12-14 hours), long day (>14 hours) |
Learn more about delicata squash
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