‘Uchiki’ Japanese Red Kuri squash, certified organic seeds

Name: ‘Uchiki’ Japanese Red Kuri squash, certified organic seeds ( Cucurbita maxima )
Brand: Gaia
Price: 4.99 CAD
Availability: InStock

Cucurbita maxima

Product code : GAIAS-0260

Japanese winter squash with orange-red fruits and dense, sweet flesh. Organic heritage variety; matures in 90 to 100 days. Read the instructions on the packet before starting and keep the label to track the variety throughout the season. Prepare a clean, loose, well-drained substrate, then moisten it before planting the seeds to limit their displacement. Keep the seedlings consistently moist without allowing standing water, as excess moisture reduces aeration around young roots. Place seedlings in bright light as soon as they emerge and regularly rotate containers to promote balanced growth.

‘Uchiki’ Japanese Red Kuri squash, certified organic seeds (Cucurbita maxima) This Japanese winter squash produces red-orange fruit with dense sweet versatile flesh. Its rounded form and rich colour bring interest to both the garden and autumn cooking. Kuri is an annual open-pollinated heirloom. The packet contains approximately 4 seeds certified organic by Ecocert Canada. Kew recognizes Cucurbita maxima as the accepted botanical name in the Cucurbitaceae family. Gaia also identifies the young leaves and flowers as edible. The mature fruit is well suited to roasting, soups, purées, and baking at home.

Gaia recommends soaking seed in warm water for up to 24 hours and lightly scarifying the seed coat. Start seed indoors three to four weeks before the last frost. Sow 1 inch deep and maintain the medium at 25 to 32°C, preferably around 27 to 30°C; germination generally takes 7 to 10 days. Transplant only after soil is warm and all frost risk has passed. Space plants 15 to 18 inches apart and rows 36 to 48 inches apart. Harden seedlings gradually before planting outdoors in warm soil.

Grow Kuri in full sun and rich loose soil that remains evenly moist while draining well. Vines stay approximately 12 to 18 inches high and spread 3 to 5 feet. Maturity occurs in 90 to 100 days. Harvest when colour is rich, the rind resists a fingernail, and the ground spot becomes cream, gold, or orange. Cut fruit with approximately 2 inches of stem and cure it in a warm dry place. Store cured fruit at 10 to 12°C with 55 to 75% relative humidity and good airflow afterward.

Uses in the garden

Allow vines to sprawl on a sunny bed or guide them between rows. Allow 90 to 150 cm of space and place the crop north of shorter plants. The orange-red fruits are easy to spot when ripe and extend harvests beyond the end of the season. Read the package instructions before starting and keep the label to track the variety throughout the season. Prepare a clean, loose, well-drained substrate, then moisten it before planting the seeds to limit their displacement. Keep the seedling uniformly moist without leaving standing water, as excess moisture reduces aeration around young roots. Place seedlings in bright light as soon as they emerge and rotate containers regularly to promote balanced growth. When multiple seedlings compete for the same space, carefully thin them to keep the most vigorous ones without disturbing their roots. Before outdoor planting, gradually acclimate young plants to wind, sun, and temperature fluctuations over several days. Respect the indicated spacing so that air circulates between plants and each one has sufficient light, water, and nutrients.

01 How much does the pouch contain?

The packet contains approximately 4 certified organic seeds by Ecocert Canada. Kuri is an annual, heirloom, and open-pollinated variety. Read the instructions on the packet before starting and keep the label to track the variety throughout the season. Prepare a clean, loose, and well-drained substrate, then moisten it before planting the seeds to limit their displacement. Keep the seedlings uniformly moist without allowing standing water, as excess moisture reduces aeration around the young roots. Place the seedlings in bright light as soon as they emerge and regularly rotate the containers to promote balanced growth. When multiple seedlings compete for the same space, carefully thin them to retain the most vigorous specimens without disturbing their roots.

02 How to start seedlings?

Soak the seeds for up to 24 hours, lightly scarify them, then sow 2.5 cm deep in pots three to four weeks before the last frost. Read the instructions on the packet before starting and keep the label to track the variety throughout the season. Prepare a clean, loose, and well-drained substrate, then moisten it before placing the seeds to limit their displacement. Keep the seedbed uniformly moist without standing water, as excess moisture reduces aeration around young roots. Place the seedlings in bright light as soon as they emerge and regularly rotate the containers to promote balanced growth.

03 How long does germination take?

Germination typically takes 7 to 10 days at 25–32 °C, ideally around 27–30 °C. Read the instructions on the packet before starting and keep the label to track the variety throughout the season. Prepare a clean, loose, well-draining substrate, then moisten it before sowing the seeds to limit their displacement. Keep the seedbed uniformly moist without allowing standing water, as excess moisture reduces aeration around young roots. Place the seedlings in bright light as soon as they emerge and regularly rotate the containers to promote balanced growth. When multiple seedlings are competing for the same space, carefully thin them to keep the most vigorous specimens without disturbing their roots.

04 How to arrange garden planting?

Space plants 38 to 45 cm apart and rows 90 to 120 cm apart. Vines spread approximately 90 to 150 cm. Read the packet instructions before starting and keep the label to track the variety throughout the season. Prepare a clean, loose, and well-drained substrate, then moisten it before sowing the seeds to limit their displacement. Keep the seedbed uniformly moist without allowing stagnant water, as excess moisture reduces aeration around young roots. Place seedlings in bright light immediately after germination and regularly rotate containers to encourage balanced growth.

05 When should we harvest?

Harvest when the rind resists the thumbnail and the color is rich. Cut with 5 cm of stem, dry in a warm place, and store at 10–12 °C. Read the instructions on the packet before starting and keep the label to track the variety throughout the season. Prepare a clean, loose, and well-drained substrate, then moisten it before sowing the seeds to limit their displacement. Keep the seedbed uniformly moist without allowing standing water, as excess moisture reduces aeration around young roots. Place the seedlings in bright light immediately after germination and regularly rotate the containers to promote balanced growth.