Delicata squash is a variety of

winter squash Winter squash is an annual fruit representing several squash species within the genus '' Cucurbita''. Late-growing, less symmetrical, odd-shaped, rough or warty varieties, small to medium in size, but with long-keeping qualities and hard rinds, ...

with cylindrical fruits that are cream-colored and striped in green or orange. As its name suggests, it has characteristically a delicate rind (or skin). It is also known as peanut squash, Bohemian squash, or sweet potato squash. It is a very sweet variety with a thin, edible skin and is typically cut into half rounds and roasted. It is a cultivar of the species ''

Cucurbita pepo ''Cucurbita pepo'' is a cultivated plant of the genus ''Cucurbita''. It yields varieties of winter squash and pumpkin, but the most widespread varieties belong to the subspecies ''Cucurbita pepo'' subsp. ''pepo'', called summer squash. It has b ...

'', which also includes the

summer squash Summer squash are squashes that are harvested when immature, while the rind is still tender and edible. Most summer squashes are varieties of ''Cucurbita pepo'', though some are '' C. moschata''. Most summer squash have a bushy growth habit, un ...

varieties

pattypan squash Pattypan squash (or 'patty pan') is a varietal group of summer squash (''Cucurbita pepo'') notable for its round and shallow shape, and scalloped edges, somewhat resembling a flying saucer. Pattypan squash represents one of the oldest domesticat ...

zucchini Zucchini (; : ''zucchini'' or ''zucchinis''), courgette () or ''Cucurbita pepo'' is a summer squash, a Vine, vining herbaceous plant whose fruit are harvested when their immature seeds and Fruit anatomy#Epicarp, epicarp (rind) are still soft a ...

, and yellow crookneck squash, as well as winter squash varieties including

acorn squash Acorn squash (''Cucurbita pepo'' var. turbinata), also called pepper squash or Des Moines squash, is a winter squash with distinctive longitudinal ridges on its exterior and sweet, yellow-orange flesh inside. Although considered a winter squash, ...

, spaghetti squash, and most

pumpkin A pumpkin is a cultivar, cultivated winter squash in the genus ''Cucurbita''. The term is most commonly applied to round, orange-colored squash varieties, but does not possess a scientific definition. It may be used in reference to many dif ...

s used as

Jack-o-lantern A jack-o'-lantern (or jack o'lantern) is a carved lantern, most commonly made from a pumpkin, or formerly a root vegetable such as a mangelwurzel, rutabaga or turnip. Jack-o'-lanterns are associated with the Halloween holiday. Its name comes ...

s. Delicata squash are easily grown. Seeds are started after all danger of frost has passed and the soil is warm or within 3–4 weeks before the predicted last frost date in the area. Seeds directly sown are placed one inch deep, 5-6 to a hill; hills are 6 feet in all direction from other hills. Roughly 105 days after germinating, delicata squash are ready to be harvested. Curing takes approximately a week in a warm, dry place that is protected from frost, such as a garage. Despite being classified as a winter squash, delicata does not store well over long periods like most other winter squash. Delicata squash is most commonly baked, but can also be microwaved, sautéed or steamed. It may be stuffed with meat or vegetable mixtures and is known for its ease of cooking and creamy flavor and texture. The seeds of the squash are also eaten, usually after being toasted. This squash is not as rich in beta-carotene as other winter squashes, but is a good source of dietary

fiber Fiber (spelled fibre in British English; from ) is a natural or artificial substance that is significantly longer than it is wide. Fibers are often used in the manufacture of other materials. The strongest engineering materials often inco ...

and

potassium Potassium is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol K (from Neo-Latin ) and atomic number19. It is a silvery white metal that is soft enough to easily cut with a knife. Potassium metal reacts rapidly with atmospheric oxygen to ...

, as well as smaller amounts of vitamins C and B,

magnesium Magnesium is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Mg and atomic number 12. It is a shiny gray metal having a low density, low melting point and high chemical reactivity. Like the other alkaline earth metals (group 2 ...

, and

manganese Manganese is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Mn and atomic number 25. It is a hard, brittle, silvery metal, often found in minerals in combination with iron. Manganese was first isolated in the 1770s. It is a transition m ...

. Indigenous to

North North is one of the four compass points or cardinal directions. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west. ''North'' is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating Direction (geometry), direction or geography. Etymology T ...

and

Central America Central America is a subregion of North America. Its political boundaries are defined as bordering Mexico to the north, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. Central America is usually ...

, squash were introduced to early European settlers by Native Americans. "'Delicata' was first introduced by a seedsman in the USA in 1894 (Tapley et al. 1937), but a fruit very much like those of this cultivar was illustrated by Naudin (1856)." (Paris 1989). As a cultivar, is "more or less unique and is not readily classifiable in any one modern group" (Paris 1989). The standard delicata is vinous; however, bush varieties have arisen including 'Bush Delicata', and seed sellers offer varieties with more sweetness as 'Sugar Loaf' and 'Honey Boat'. Delicata squash almost disappeared after the Great Depression, and wasn't widely grown due to its susceptibility to mildew diseases. This changed in the early 2000s, when a group at Cornell University's Department of Plant Breeding, led by

Molly Jahn Molly Jahn is an American plant geneticist and breeder and Professor of Agronomy at University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA. She was Under Secretary of Research, Education and Economics in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (2009 - 2010). Career Ja ...

, bred a non-hybrid open pollinated variety, Cornell's Bush Delicata, that was resistant to most known squash diseases. It won the 2002 All-America Selection (AAS), a seed-industry award and is now the primary commercial cultivar.

References

External links

Vegetarians in Paradise, Squashes Star in a Famous Sister Act

Simple Roasted Delicata Squash in the Oven recipe
{{Squashes and pumpkins Squashes and pumpkins