"Black Futsu" Squash

Cucurbita moschata

What an amazing variety! Black Futsu won our squashy hearts this year for so many reasons! Black Futsu is a moschata, the species made up of the Butternut types (the hourglass shaped beige storage squash). We are usually partial to the deep, sweet, denser flesh of the maximas (buttercups and kabochas) and sometimes find that butternuts can be a bit watery and stringy. Unlike its other Butternut relatives however, Black Futsu has been selected for dense, dry and candy-sweet flesh. Much more like a maxima in flavor and appearance.

Black Futsu is a gorgeous Japanese heirloom. A work of art. This warty, deeply lobed pumpkin-esque squash will be a deep green when you harvest and it is very exciting to witness the Black Futsu transform as it cures. It seems to mimic the natural world around it as it fades from a rich green into a beautiful brownish orange dusted with a blueish grey veil. Like a misty autumn morning. A very ornamental and truly delicious squash for the harvest season!

Growing Instructions:

Sow indoors 2 to 3 weeks before setting out after last frost or direct seed after last frost. 

Set plants/seeds 24" apart.

Space rows 5 to 6 feet apart

Amend soil with good compost. We also recommend a fall or spring cover crop of peas or another annual legume to fix nitrogen for the squash plants.

Mulch with leaves, or whatever you have available, to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Make sure soil pH is between 5.8 and 7.0. If plant needs a growing boost ,water with nitrogen tea or compost tea a few times. If trace minerals are inadequate, sprinkle a small amount of woodash in each planting hole.

Harvest Instructions:

Harvest when plants begin to die back or before the first killing frost. Frost negativity impacts storability of squash. Black Futsu is green when first harvested (see photo above) and will turn to its mature coloring in storage.