Pumpkin Delicata Seeds
$3.90
Unit price perCucurbita pepo
Delicata is a much-loved heirloom winter squash producing attractive oblong fruits approximately 20 cm long and 7 cm wide. The creamy skin is patterned with distinctive dark green longitudinal stripes and flecks, while inside is sweet, golden flesh with a smooth, rich texture.
The flavour is notably sweet and often described as somewhere between pumpkin and sweet potato, with a slightly nutty quality. Its convenient individual size makes Delicata particularly good for roasting and stuffing. Simply halve the fruit, remove the seeds and bake, or fill with grains, vegetables, herbs, cheese or meat. The flesh is also excellent in soups, curries and warm salads.
One of Delicata's great culinary advantages is its edible skin. When cooked, the relatively thin rind becomes tender enough to eat, so there is generally no need to peel the fruit before roasting.
Delicata is an American heirloom dating to the late 19th century and was commercially introduced in the United States in the 1890s. After declining in popularity for a period, it enjoyed a resurgence as gardeners and cooks rediscovered its exceptional flavour, manageable fruit size and distinctive appearance.
Although commonly grouped with pumpkins and winter squash, Delicata belongs to Cucurbita pepo, the same species that includes zucchini, many summer squashes and numerous ornamental gourds.
Approximately 15 seeds per packet
When to Plant (Australia)
Tropics: During the warm season, avoiding the wettest periods where disease pressure is high
Subtropics: Spring to summer
Mild climates: Spring to early summer after frost
Cold climates: Spring after all danger of frost; start indoors where the growing season is short
Planting / Sowing
Sow approximately 20–30 mm deep directly into warm, prepared soil after all danger of frost has passed, or raise seedlings for transplanting once conditions are reliably warm.
Grow in full sun in rich, fertile, well-drained soil. Allow approximately 1–1.5 m between plants and provide room for the vines to spread.
Keep plants consistently watered during active growth, flowering and fruit development. Water deeply at soil level where possible rather than regularly wetting the foliage.
Harvest when the cream-coloured skin has developed its characteristic dark green markings, the rind has hardened and the stem begins to dry. Cut fruits from the vine with a section of stem attached.
Allow mature fruit to cure in a warm, dry, well-ventilated position before storing. Delicata can be stored after harvest, although its thinner skin means it generally does not keep as long as the hardest-skinned winter pumpkins.
Maturity: approximately 100 days.
Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.
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Flower seeds: As fellow gardening enthusiasts we share the love for planting and nurturing our own flowers in addition to our veggie gardens. Our carefully selected range of flower seeds, available for convenient online purchase, holds a special place in our hearts. Like the endangered vegetables we've championed, these flower varieties face the risk of vanishing forever. Some of these older strains are incredibly rare, and it's a source of immense pride for us to offer and deliver these precious flower seeds Australia-wide.

