BUSH DELICATA
Best winter squash for home gardeners with limited growing space.
Introducing the award-winning Bush Delicata winter squash, a perfect addition for home gardens. This variety offers a compact bush habit, ideal for smaller spaces, and matures in about 80 days. It yields oblong squash with creamy skin and green stripes, weighing 1.5-2 pounds. Enjoy its sweet, nutty flesh with hints of brown sugar and butter. This nutrient-rich squash is also resistant to powdery mildew and stores for 2-3 months without curing.
$15.95
Owner Satisfaction
4.7
/ 5
Category Rank
270
/ 5888
#270 in Seeds & Seed Tape
Price vs Category Average
+50%
Above average
Days to maturity
80
/ days
Who it's for
- Urban gardeners with limited square footage
- Home cooks prioritizing rich, sweet flavor profiles
- Busy cooks wanting quick, peel-free meal preparation
Who should skip it
- Gardeners seeking long-term winter pantry storage
- Beginners struggling with common squash pests
- Homesteaders needing high-volume harvests per plant
Performance breakdown
Space Efficiency
Compact bush habit makes it perfect for small-scale home gardens.
Disease Resistance
Strong defense against powdery mildew ensures a healthier, more reliable harvest.
Flavor Profile
Rich, nutty notes deliver a premium culinary experience for winter squash.
Storage Convenience
Eliminates the curing process while maintaining quality for several months.
Growth Speed
Eighty-day maturity window fits comfortably within most standard growing seasons.
Germination Reliability
Solid seventy-five percent minimum germination rate provides consistent planting success.
Key Specs
Days to maturity
80 days
Soil Temp for Germination
65–85°F
Seed Depth
1–1 ½"
Seed Spacing
3–4/hill
Days to Emergence
5–10 days
Thin Plants to
1–2/hill
Row Spacing
3–6'
Fertilizer Needs
Medium
Features
- Compact bush habit for small gardens
- Sweet, nutty flavor profile
- Resistant to powdery mildew
- Stores well for 2-3 months
- No curing required for storage
- Award-winning variety
What customers say
The Territorial Seed BUSH DELICATA variety earns high praise for its exceptional combination of superior flavor and compact growth. Gardeners love the rich, sweet, nutty taste and tender edible skin, noting its excellent storage quality. The bush habit is the key feature, highly valued by those with limited space or container gardens. Plants maintain a manageable footprint while still producing robust yields, often four to six fruits per plant. This efficient trade-off between space saving and productivity drives high satisfaction. Germination is consistently excellent, reflecting reliable seed quality. Customers confirm this variety successfully eliminates the spatial challenges of traditional squash without sacrificing the beloved Delicata flavor, making it a highly recommended staple for small gardens.
Know before you buy
Unlike traditional vining squash, this variety has a compact bush habit, making it ideal for smaller gardens. You should space your rows 3 to 6 feet apart to ensure adequate airflow and growth.
No, Bush Delicata does not require a curing period. You can harvest the fruit and store it immediately for 2 to 3 months in a cool, dry place.
You can expect to harvest your squash approximately 80 days after planting. Seeds typically emerge within 5 to 10 days when planted in soil between 65 and 85°F.
Bush Delicata is specifically bred to be resistant to powdery mildew, which is a common issue for many squash varieties. This makes it a reliable choice for home gardeners looking for a lower-maintenance crop.
Plant the seeds 1 to 1 ½ inches deep, placing 3 to 4 seeds per hill. Once the seedlings are established, thin them down to 1 to 2 plants per hill to prevent overcrowding.
When stored properly in a cool, dry environment, these seeds have a viable life of 3 to 4 years. Always ensure the packet is sealed tightly after use to maintain the minimum 75% germination rate.
Still have a question?
Ask Hayley anything about this product before you decide.
Ready to buy?
$16