Cornell's Bush Delicata Squash

This compact variety has all the perks of a great delicata: it's the first winter squash to ripen; it has sweet, firm flesh; and its flavor is exceptional. Though it is not as bush in habit as some zucchinis, the short internodes in its growth habit lead to a very compact form, making it suitable for growing in a large container or smaller garden space. (After its first flush of fruit set, it may start to vine a bit more, but these growing tips can easily be trimmed away, as they usually won't lead to additional squash.) Expect anywhere from 2-5 ripe fruits from each plant.

This unique squash is the product of a Cornell University breeding project lead by Molly Jahn and George Moriarty. Although the breeding of this variety was focused on agronomically important traits such as bush habit and powdery mildew resistance, Jahn talks about the breeding process as an art form. Thanks to Molly's successor at Cornell, Michael Mazourek, we are returning this variety to its roots by propagating seeds from the original breeding project, continuing to select for prolific production and healthy plants.