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Cucurbita moschata Hercules F1 seeds - Butternut squash

Cucurbita moschata Hercules F1
Butternut Squash

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'Hercules F1' Butternut squash is a fast-maturing, easy-to-grow hybrid variety. It produces pear-shaped, 1 to 3 kg fruits with smooth skin and a small seed cavity. A productive, fleshy variety that stores well. Sow from May to June and harvest from August to October.
Ease of cultivation
Beginner
Height at maturity
40 cm
Spread at maturity
1.50 m
Soil moisture
Moist soil
Germination time (days)
10 days
Sowing method
Direct sowing, Sowing under cover, Sowing under cover with heat
Sowing period May to June
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Flowering time July to September
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Harvest time August to November
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Description

'Hercules F1' Butternut squash is a fast-maturing, easy-to-grow hybrid variety. It produces pear-shaped, 1 to 3 kg fruits with smooth skin and a small seed cavity. A productive, fleshy variety that stores well. Sow from May to June and harvest from August to October.

Orange, green, red, yellow, black or blue; smooth, ribbed, bumpy, hard-skinned, soft-skinned... Summer and winter squash comes in an astonishing array of shapes, colours and sizes due to their ability to hybridise easily. Winter squash refers to all pumpkins and squashes with tough skin and delicately sweet flesh. Summer squash, including courgettes (or zucchini), are different varieties that are harvested young, whilst the skin and seeds are still tender.

Both summer and winter squash are native to America and belong to the large Cucurbitaceae or gourd family (also known as cucurbits). They were introduced in Europe during the 16th century. The plants are generally annual vines that use tendrils for support. They are monoecious, meaning that both male and female flowers are produced on the same plant. Female flowers are easily identified by an inferior ovary located at the base of the flower, which will become a fruit when pollinated. The edible male squash blossoms are often harvested after pollination then fried or stuffed. The female flowers are edible too, however picking them will of course result in fewer fruits. Squash is a very versatile vegetable that is delicious roasted, in gratin or blended into soups. Courgette is a staple ingredient in ratatouille, couscous and many other popular Mediterranean dishes. Both courgette and squash are low in calories and high in minerals and vitamins, especially provitamin A and vitamin B.

Harvesting: Squashes should preferably be harvested at full maturity, unless they are liable to rot when left on the plant. If this is the case, they can be brought indoors to ripen. Courgettes are harvested whilst they are still young and tender. Handle summer and winter squash with care to avoid damaging the skin.

Storage: Courgettes do not store well because of their fine skin. It is possible to freeze them in slices for later use. Thick-skinned winter squashes will keep for several months and can be eaten all winter long. Unlike other fruits and vegetables, they store better in a warm, dry place. No need to store them in the dark: they are great to decorate the house during the colder months!

Good to know: Placing the squash fruits on top of a slate or roof tile will keep them from being in direct contact with the ground. This prevents them from rotting due to excessive humidity. Squash and courgette plants favour moist soil and benefit from mulching, especially during the hotter summer months. Both are very prone to powdery mildew (a fungal disease that causes a white down to form on the surface of the leaves). When watering, try to avoid getting water on the leaves or flowers. Grow your squash plants alongside alliums such as chives, onions or shallots or members of the Fabaceae family (formerly legumes) such as beans or peas. Avoid growing them next to cucumber plants.

Even if the vegetable garden is first and foremost a place for growing great quality veg, it’s always a good idea to leave a bit of room for flowers. Growing flowers alongside your vegetable plants will make your general gardening experience more enjoyable and is a great way to attract pollinators and repel garden pests! Flowers such as gaillardia, marigolds, zinnias, cosmos or nasturtiums can be sown in and around the rows of vegetables. Herbs such as dill can be very useful also. Bear in mind that some companion plants self-seed easily and can be a bit invasive (borage, chives, lemon balm etc.)

NB: This variety is marked F1 for "F1 hybrid" meaning that its qualities are derived from carefully selected parent plants. This results in a variety that is full of flavour and resistant to diseases. Sometimes criticised or wrongly assimilated to GMOs, F1 hybrid seeds have the advantage of producing reliable, uniform, disease-resistant plants. Unfortunately, these qualities will not be passed on to the following generations.

Harvest

Harvest time August to November
Type of vegetable Fruit vegetable
Vegetable colour white
Size of vegetable Large
Fruit diameter 10 cm
Interest Flavour, Nutritional value, Very productive
Flavour Sweet
Use Cooking

Plant habit

Height at maturity 40 cm
Spread at maturity 1.50 m
Growth rate fast

Foliage

Foliage persistence Annual
Foliage colour green

Botanical data

Genus

Cucurbita

Species

moschata

Cultivar

Hercules F1

Family

Cucurbitaceae

Other common names

Butternut Squash

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Annual / Perennial

Annual

Product reference44261

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Planting and care

Preparation

Cucurbits like loose, deep soil. Dig a hole at least 40 cm in all directions and fill it with well-decomposed manure and/or compost. In addition to good fertilisation, they will need plenty of water and warmth and a lot of space (at least 1 square metre).

Sowing

Before sowing, you can soak the seeds for 24 hours in a little warm water to initiate germination.

Either, 3 weeks before transplanting, under a cloche or in a warm place (16 to 30°C), starting from April, sow 2 or 3 seeds per pot or container large enough for root development. Germination will occur 3 to 5 days later. Then keep only the most vigorous plant. Plant in the ground after mid-May, once all risk of frost has passed. It is important not to sow too early, as the plants could become spindly and/or their root system, if too developed, would not withstand transplantation.

Or, from mid-May, directly in place, in groups of 3 seeds, as soon as frosts are no longer a concern and the soil is well warmed up. Thin out after 2 to 3 weeks to keep only the most vigorous plant. Cover the soil with organic matter (compost, clippings, leaves...) to help maintain soil moisture.

Watering

From sowing or planting, water generously, being careful not to displace the seeds, then regularly during fruit formation. However, once the fruits are formed, during ripening, limit watering and protect the fruits from rot by isolating them from the ground.

 

6
€19.50
16
€14.50 Each

Seedlings

Sowing period May to June
Sowing method Direct sowing, Sowing under cover, Sowing under cover with heat
Germination time (days) 10 days

Care

Soil moisture Wet
Disease resistance Good
Pruning No pruning necessary

Intended location

Type of use Vegetable garden
Hardiness Hardy down to 1°C (USDA zone 10b) Show map
Ease of cultivation Beginner
Soil rich
Exposure Sun
Soil pH Any
Soil type Silty-loamy (rich and light), 130

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