Squash Table Queen Acorn (Members Only Preservation Pack)

Description

Heritage Status: New Zealand
Bio-Region of Origin: New Plymouth
Number of Seeds: 10

Description: It is said these squash originated with the Arikara tribe in North Dakota but they have been in New Zealand for a long time. We were sent a very old packet of this seed in the 1990s by a member and it has turned out to be quite a beauty. They are quite small weighing 1 kg and mature early in the season and have a delicious texture and flavour a lot like Delicata; sweet and nutty. They are at their best when still dark green, and best when eaten within 2-3 months of harvest, but turn a stunning earth gold colour after that which is very ornamental. They are shaped like acorns, and if they have good conditions they are super heavy croppers. Acorn Squash NZH….The dark green squash gets its name from its acorn-shape. The golden flesh is mildly sweet and dryer in texture than most other squashes, like butternut or buttercup. The fruits are normally about five to eight inches long and four to five inches across. The tough outer rind has deep, characteristic ridges, which, when mature, develop a splash of yellow-gold. The acorn squash was particularly valued for its ease of use in early civilizations in Northern USA, as it could be baked whole in the outdoor clay and brick ovens.

Planting Instructions: Sow seed into tray after danger of frost. Prick out at 6 cm diagonal spacings when first leaves appear. Transplant into garden at 1m diagonal spacings once leaves touch in the tray and soil temp reaches 15-16 degrees C.