Cucurbita maxima DELICA® Moon F1 | Kabocha Squash

Cucurbita maxima DELICA® Moon F1 is a distinctive Kabocha-type winter squash with attractive light green fruits that gradually mature to a beautiful grey colour. Inside, the fruits reveal intense yellow to orange flesh with a medium-compact, relatively dry texture, making this variety particularly versatile in the kitchen.

DELICA® Moon F1 has a vigorous plant habit and produces fruits weighing approximately 2 kg. Its unusual grey mature skin, richly coloured flesh and practical culinary qualities make it an excellent choice for home gardens, market gardens and professional vegetable production.

Plant Information

• Botanical name: Cucurbita maxima
• Variety: DELICA® Moon F1
• Type: Kabocha squash / winter squash
• Hybrid: F1
• Plant habit: Vigorous
• Fruit weight: Approx. 2 kg
• Young fruit colour: Light green
• Mature fruit colour: Grey
• Flesh colour: Intense yellow to orange
• Flesh texture: Medium compact and relatively dry
• Sowing period: April–May
• Position: Full sun
• Market use: Fresh
• Professional planting density: Approx. 15,000 plants/ha

Distinctive Grey Kabocha Squash

One of the most interesting characteristics of DELICA® Moon F1 is the transformation of its fruit colour as it matures.

Young fruits have an attractive light green skin, which gradually develops into a distinctive grey colour at full maturity. When cut open, the neutral exterior contrasts beautifully with the intensely coloured yellow to orange flesh.

This combination makes DELICA® Moon F1 an attractive and distinctive Kabocha variety for both gardeners and professional growers.

Medium-Compact, Dry Flesh

DELICA® Moon F1 develops medium-compact and relatively dry flesh. This texture makes the fruits suitable for a wide range of culinary uses.

The lower-moisture, substantial texture is particularly useful for oven roasting, baking, soups, purées and other cooked dishes where a dense pumpkin consistency is desirable.

The intense yellow to orange colour also gives prepared dishes a rich, appetising appearance.

Approximately 2 kg Fruits

DELICA® Moon F1 produces fruits weighing approximately 2 kg, making them a practical size for kitchen use.

The fruits are large enough to provide a generous amount of flesh while remaining convenient for harvesting, handling and preparation.

For growers selling directly to customers, farm shops or markets, the combination of practical fruit size and distinctive grey skin also creates an attractive presentation.

Vigorous Growth

DELICA® Moon F1 has a vigorous plant habit, so plants should be given sufficient room to develop.

Choose a warm, sunny location with fertile, well-drained soil. Pumpkins and winter squash benefit from soil enriched with well-decomposed compost or other organic matter before planting.

Consistent watering is particularly important during flowering, fruit set and fruit development.

When to Sow DELICA® Moon F1

Sow DELICA® Moon F1 from April to May, adjusting the exact timing according to local climate and growing conditions.

In cooler climates, starting the plants indoors or under protection is recommended for an earlier and more reliable crop.

Sow seeds individually into pots or larger plug cells. Because squash seedlings develop rapidly, avoid keeping them in small containers for too long.

Plant outdoors only after all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.

How to Sow Cucurbita maxima Seeds

Sow 1 seed per pot or large cell in moist, fertile and well-drained seed-starting compost.

Cover the seed with substrate and maintain consistent moisture during germination without keeping the growing medium waterlogged.

Once seedlings emerge, provide plenty of light to encourage strong, healthy growth.

Before transplanting outdoors, gradually harden off the young plants.

Growing DELICA® Moon F1

Plant in a warm, sunny and preferably sheltered position.

As a vigorous Kabocha squash, DELICA® Moon F1 needs sufficient space for its vines to develop. Good soil fertility and regular moisture will support healthy growth and fruit development.

Avoid allowing plants to remain excessively wet for prolonged periods, while also preventing severe drought during active fruit formation.

For professional production, the supplied growing information indicates a density of approximately 15,000 plants per hectare.

Harvesting

Allow the fruits to mature fully and develop their characteristic grey skin before harvesting.

Cut mature fruits from the plant with a clean knife or secateurs, leaving part of the stem attached. Avoid pulling or twisting the fruits from the vines.

Handle harvested squash carefully, as damage to the skin can reduce storage quality.

Fruits intended for storage should be harvested before frost.

Storage

Choose fully mature, healthy and undamaged fruits for storage.

Keep them in a dry, well-ventilated and frost-free location and check the fruits periodically during storage.

Any damaged fruits should be used first rather than kept for long-term storage.

DELICA® Moon F1 vs DELICA® F1

Although both belong to the DELICA® Kabocha range, they have clearly different fruit characteristics.

DELICA® F1 produces characteristic dark green fruits with thick yellow flesh and a very sweet flavour, while DELICA® Moon F1 begins light green and matures to grey, with intense yellow to orange, medium-compact and relatively dry flesh.

This makes DELICA® Moon F1 especially interesting for growers who want to expand their Kabocha selection with a visually distinctive grey-skinned variety.

Why Grow DELICA® Moon F1?

Kabocha-type winter squash • Attractive grey mature skin • Light green young fruits • Intense yellow to orange flesh • Medium-compact, dry texture • Approx. 2 kg fruits • Vigorous plants • Versatile culinary use • Reliable F1 hybrid • Suitable for home and professional growing

Cucurbita maxima DELICA® Moon F1 is an excellent choice for growers looking for Kabocha squash seeds with distinctive grey fruits, richly coloured flesh and a versatile texture for cooking, roasting and autumn harvests.