Festival Squash
Festival Squash is a hybrid with beautiful color and sweet flavor. Shaped like a miniature acorn squash, fruits average 1-2 lbs. Easy to prepare, just cut in half and roast. Cucurbita pepo. 100 days to maturity.
30 seeds per packet
Description
Be sure to check out our Winter Squash Growing Guide to learn how to successfully grow winter squash at home.
Festival Squash is a hybrid winter squash variety that's beautifully colored with orange, yellow and green variegation. Shaped like a smaller acorn squash, these fruits are ribbed with a pointed end. Productive plants produce 7-8 fruits per plant and average 1-2 lbs each. These have a flavor similar to an acorn squash, although slightly sweeter. Plants have a semi-bush habit which makes them easy to harvest and great for growing in smaller gardens or tight spaces. Festival Squash stores well and has been noted to hold 3 months after harvest.
Festival Squash may be direct seeded or transplanted, although we highly recommend direct seeding. To ensure a good stand, we recommend planting Seeds every 12" along the intended row. Once plants emerge, thin plants to one every 2 feet. Winter Squash can be susceptible to plant diseases like downy mildew and powdery mildew if leaves receive excess moisture. As a result, we recommend using drip irrigation on winter squash to reduce plant moisture and feed plants more effectively. During periods of heavy rainfall, using a fungicide like Liquid Copper can help to alleviate disease pressure as well.
Winter Squash are a crop that will produce a one-time harvest at the end of the growing season. They should be harvested when plants die back and the fruits obtain their full color. Stem hardness is also an indication of fruit maturity. Once stems harden, fruits are ready for harvest using a set of pruning shears. Winter Squash can be stored in a cool, dry place for several months, depending on variety and sugar content. Once fruits are harvested, remove the plants from the garden to prevent any fungal spores from overwintering and becoming a problem in future years. Proper crop rotation is extremely important with all pumpkin varieties to reduce disease and pest pressure.
Festival Squash Planting Information
Planting Method: direct seed
When to Plant: after last frost
Planting Depth: 1/2"
Seed Spacing: 18-24"
Row Spacing: 5-6'
Days to Maturity: 100
Disease Resistance: None
