Botanical Interests
Kurinishiki Kabocha Winter Squash Seeds
Kurinishiki Kabocha Winter Squash Seeds
Cucurbita maxima (hybrid)
10 seeds
Free shipping on orders over $79
Product Details
Product Details
Kurinishiki' is a small (3—4 pound), reliable kabocha squash. Kabocha means "pumpkin" or "winter squash" in Japanese and are traditionally made into soups or tempura. Use it just like any other winter squash, and the possibilities are endless. Similar to a sweet potato in flavor and texture, this squash is a favorite in many Asian countries. Allow room for vines ranging 4'—12' long. Stores up to 5 months.
Your hardiness zone is
- Variety Info
- Sowing Info
- Growing Info
Variety Info
Days to Maturity: 95 days
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Type: Kabocha Squash, Winter Squash (Learn more)
Native: Argentina and Uruguay
Hardiness: Frost-sensitive annual
Exposure: Full sun
Plant Dimensions: 4'–12' vines
Variety Info: 3–4-pound, flattened globe-shape fruits are dark, greenish-gray with pale green striping. Flesh is yellow-orange, very sweet, and smooth when cooked.
Attributes: Frost Sensitive
Sowing Info
When to Sow Outside: RECOMMENDED. 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date, and when soil temperature is 70°–85°.
When to Start Inside: Not recommended except in very short growing seasons, 2 to 4 weeks before transplanting. Roots are sensitive to disturbance; sow in biodegradable pots that can be planted directly into the ground. Transplant when soil temperature is at least 60°F.
Sprouts in: 5–10 days
Plant Seeds (Depth): ½–1"
Space Seeds: 2–3 seeds per mound
Row Spacing: 4'–12' apart
Thinning: When 3" leaves, thin to 1–2 per mound
Growing Info
Harvesting: Harvest when the squash's rind is hard enough that you can't dent it with your fingernail and before first frost. Cut stem, (don't break it off) leaving 2" of stem attached, which keeps the squash whole, leaving no opening for infection. Though fruits are hard and may seem indestructible, treat them gently; bruising can spoil squash.
- Justin G.MD, United StatesVerified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 starsSep 23, 2026Successful, but sought out by SVB
I grew four of these on arched trellises and all of them were extremely successful. Up until the day that squash vine borer wiped out the entire crop one by one. In every case I caught the squash vine borer pretty early on and performed emergency surgery to remove the larva from inside and tried to repair the stem. They held on for a few weeks longer, but couldn't maintain the flow of water and nutrients with the vascular damage to the stem. I will absolutely try again next season and take preventative measures to guard against SVB. I had to harvest all of my pumpkins early in an attempt to save the vine and preserve its energy, but it just couldn't recover sufficiently. Even so, the immature fruit was delicious and tender, just not hardy enough to store.
Which best describes you as a gardener? BeginnerWho do you grow for? FamiliesHow do you prefer to grow? Raised BedEGEpic GardeningSep 24, 2026Hey Justin,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with us! We're really impressed by your success growing four Kurinishiki Kabocha Winter Squash on trellises - that's fantastic! It sounds like you put a lot of care and effort into your crop, and we truly appreciate you sharing the details about what happened with the squash vine borers.
It must have been a very frustrating experience. We're genuinely glad to hear that even the immature fruit turned out to be delicious and tender. Your determination to try again next season with preventative measures is the spirit we love to see! Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we're committed to supporting your growing success.
Thank you again for being such a dedicated gardener and for your input. Keep on growing 🌻
- missVerified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 starsAug 31, 2026extremely heat tolerant
Of about the 5-6 seeds I started only two thrived, but I chalk this mostly up to user-error on my end since it's my first year gardening. Once they get going they REALLY get going. One ended up growing up and across a shed roof, and the other took up half my 6x3 garden bed and the fence behind it. A string of 100F+ weeks have killed off a lot of my older plants but these are still going strong.
Which best describes you as a gardener? BeginnerEGEpic GardeningSep 1, 2026Hey Miss,
We're so stoked to hear that your Kurinishiki Kabocha Winter Squash Seeds have been such a success! It's awesome that once they got going they really took off - growing up and across your shed roof and taking over half your garden bed is seriously impressive! And we love that they're holding up so well through those intense 100F+ weeks when so many other plants are struggling. Your experience is a great reminder of how resilient these plants can be. Thanks so much for being part of the growing community! Keep on growing 🌻
- Durcy P.Rated 5 out of 5 starsAug 13, 20245 Stars
Absolutely in loved with my winter squash fields fast growing kind I’m expecting to harvest a lot they look strong and healthy. Very disease resistant definitely 5 stars
- Diane K.Verified BuyerRated 1 out of 5 starsJun 23, 2026Poor Germination
I planted 6 seeds and only 2 germinated. I have squash seeds that are several years old that had better germination rate. I would have expected these to do better, considering the price was almost $6 for only 10 seeds. Needless to say, I'm very disappointed!
Which best describes you as a gardener? ExpertEGEpic GardeningJun 27, 2026Hey Diane,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts in a review. I've reached out to you via email to offer assistance. Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we are committed to ensuring your experience is positive. Thank you once again for your input. Keep on growing 🌻️
- John W.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 starsJun 20, 2026Good,Good
Good, almost
All germinated.
And there weed 11
Seeds in the packet to account for an occasional seed that doesn’t make it to germination.
Which best describes you as a gardener? ProfessionalEGEpic GardeningJun 23, 2026Hey John,
We're so happy to hear about your excellent Kurinishiki Kabocha Winter Squash Seeds germination! It's fantastic that almost all of them sprouted for you - that's exactly what we love to see! And yes, we always try to include a few extra seeds in each packet because we know how disappointing it can be when you're counting on every single seed. Sounds like you're well on your way to a great kabocha harvest! Thanks for sharing your germination success with us! Keep on growing 🌻️
