Red Kuri squash is an herbaceous vine plant of the genus Cucurbita.
It is also known as Red Kuri Kabocha, Japanese squash, Uchiki Kuri squash, Red Hokkaido, or Orange Hokkaido squash.
The Red Kuri squash is a winter squash that grows best in full sun. This article will provide you with the knowledge and instruction on how to grow Red Kuri squash.
Red Kuri squash produces edible fruits also used for ornamental purposes. The squash has a beautiful deep orange skin and is sweet and flavorful. It is an easy-to-grow vegetable that will provide you with delicious food all winter.
However, it is vital to take care of the plant so that it bears fruit.
This guide will teach you how to grow Red Kuri squash and will provide you with some essential caring tips for the Red Kuri as well.
We will also discuss when to harvest this fruit for the best flavor and the maximum nutritional benefits.
So, without further ado, let’s get into it.
How to Grow Red Kuri Squash? | Growing Requirements
You can eat Red Kuri squash in variable ways, as they are served in soups, pies, and roasted like other winter vegetables.
In addition to these preparations, you can enjoy this raw vegetable sautéed with its skin.
The Red Kuri squash is grown from bright yellow to a beautiful red-orange color. It matures into 5–8 pound fruits with smooth, dry, sweet, and rich golden flesh.
Here are the requirements to grow Red Kuri squash:
- This drought-resistant crop does well in areas with scarce water. Therefore, you don’t have to flood it with water.
- It is a prolific plant giving around 3–7 fruits per plant.
- Plant Red Kuri squash before your last spring frost. It is a warm-season crop that grows best in 70–80°F.
- Wanna know how to grow Red Kuri? It is best to sprout the seeds indoors as they quickly mature when introduced to the soil. As a result, fruit production is quicker.
- You can also start sowing directly in the ground around mid-May. Choose a sheltered place for this purpose if you plan to plant earlier.
- It’s essential to plant Red Kuri squash in the vegetable patch after the last frost has passed as it’s a frost-sensitive plant. Your crop should mature before the temperature dip below freezing.
- Red Kuri squash or Red Hokkaido is a sun lover, thus needing a warm to a hot climate for proper germination.
- It is recommended to use artificial grow lights if the full sun is not available to grow Red Kuri squash. Give at least 6 hours of daily light or more.
- Red Kuri squash seeds prefer soilless mixes and Rockwool cubes to germinate well.
- It thrives in hydroponic systems and aeroponic systems as well.
With all that aside, let’s take a look at the methods to grow Red Kuri squash.
How To Grow Red Kuri Squash? 3 Amazing Methods
Here are three ways to grow Red Kuri squash:
- Indoors.
- Outdoors.
- Propagation Method.
But before proceeding to the particular methods, here are some general tips to share for the best growth of your Red Kuri squash:
- If you are planting more than one seed (directly in the ground—outdoors), ensure they are at least 6–8 feet apart.
- Soak the seeds in water for 12 hours before planting them in a garden bed or a pot.
- The planting depth should be 1.2 to 2.5 cm (0.5 to 1 inches).
- Please make sure the seeds are daily watered until they sprout.
- Choose a sunny location to help your seeds germinate.
Growing Red Kuri Squash Indoors
Red Kuri squash needs 2–4 weeks before the average last frost date when growing indoors.
- Fill nursery pots with a good potting mix.
- The temperature of the soil should be around 70°F.
- Take 2–3 seeds and gently press them down in each pot.
- The seeds take around 10–14 days to sprout.
- Once the seeds start sprouting, keep the vigorous ones and discard the rest.
That was how to grow Red Kuri squash indoors.
Growing Red Kuri Squash Outdoors
If you are growing Red Kuri squash outdoors, you’ll need to wait the same period after the last frost date (as in the case of growing them indoors).
- Since the seeds grow well in richer soil, make your soil rich by adding manure or fertilizer before sowing seeds.
- Make holes by pressing your fingers into the ground.
- Add seeds in each holing (ensuring a gap of 6–8 ft).
- You will see the seeds sprouting after 2–3 weeks.
- Now is the time to thin and keep the most vigorous seedlings.
“Red Kuri Squash sprawl out everywhere, so ensure you have enough space. Otherwise, you can opt for vertical gardening. A garden trellis, sturdy pergola, or iron bars is the best way to deal with such vines.”
Now you know how to grow Red Kuri squash indoors and outdoors. Now, let’s see how you can propagate the Red Kuri squash.
Related Article: How To Grow Pumpkins? A Professional’s Perspective On Growing The Best Ones
Propagating Red Kuri Squash
With cuttings, plants may produce fruit earlier than those grown from seeds, so here are the perfect tips for propagating Red Kuri squash.
- Take stem cuttings from your Red Kuri squash so you can make a new plant.
- Cuttings should contain between 1–3 nodes, taken from the upper part of a stem with small leaves.
- Plant them in well-drained soil-less media for faster growth.
- Adding nodes along the stem of an established plant will encourage it to grow, as new roots will grow from those points.
- Therefore, if one section of the stem is damaged, it can keep growing without any problem.
That was all about how to grow Red Kuri squash. Now, let’s see how you can care for the plant.
Caring Tips For Red Kuri Squash
Here are some caring tips for your Red Kuri squash.
- Plant Red Kuri squash on raised mounds with deep, rich, and fertile soil that drains well.
- Add fertilizer regularly to provide enough nutrients to your seedlings.
- Watering the ground—not watering the leaves or the fruits—is best for this crop.
- Keep weeds down, and don’t let plants dry out. Plenty of water is required when plants are in flower or fruiting. You can add mulch to conserve water better.
- The great companions to grow alongside Red Kuri squash include marigolds, radishes, beans, Calendula Officinalis, nasturtiums, and corn.
- Moreover, consider planting flowers with your squash plants to give them better pollination rates by attracting bees.
- Use row covers or insecticidal soaps to treat pests or disease infestation.
Harvesting
When and how to harvest the Red Kuri squash?
- Red Kuri squash needs 80 to 95 days to ripe. You will know it is ripe when its skin color turns dark green to orange or red.
- Harvesting should be done with care so as not to damage the squash and its roots, leading to rotting and disease. We recommend using a sharp sterilized knife or pruning shears.
Storing
Tips for storing Red Kuri squash:
- Allow the squash to remain in the sunshine for about ten days before storing them.
- Place harvested squash in plastic bags before putting them into your refrigerator.
- Store them in a cool, dark environment with less than 65% humidity. It will help your squashes last for several months.
- You can also keep Red Kuri squash for almost a year in a dry room with temperatures ranging from around 10 to 15°C.
- It is best to cut any remaining leaves and stems from the fruit after harvest as they often bear diseases.
That would be all my friends. Let’s head toward the conclusion.
Conclusion
How to grow Red Kuri squash? I hope you got the answer.
To conclude:
The Red Kuri Squash is a popular vegetable grown in the home garden or on a farm.
Growing this squash is not difficult at all. All you need to do is follow the steps in this article, and you will have your harvest of Red Kuri Squash in no time!
We hope our guide on growing Red Kuri squash will help you expand your garden. Don’t forget to leave your feedback in the comments section if it helped!
Regards,
Happy planting!