Kabocha squash Orange Summer F1

The Orange Summer F1 squashis a premium hybrid variety, renowned for its great uniformity, yield, earliness, and resistance to powdery mildew. Its semi-bushy habit, more compact than that of trailing varieties, allows it to be grown even in raised vegetable beds. Its cultivation is suitable for market gardeners.

Each Orange Summer F1 squash plant produces several regular fruits, weighing 1.2 to 1.6 kg. Their smooth, shiny, bright orange skin protects thick, fine, and melting flesh. Sweet and sugary, it recalls the delicate flavour of chestnuts and lends itself to many culinary preparations.
Orange Summer F1 has a short cycle (85 to 90 days) and good resistance to powdery mildew. Its fruits can be harvested from the end of summer, well before the first frosts. And they can be stored for up to four months after harvest while retaining their flavour. This squash is very versatile in the kitchen, suitable for both savoury dishes and sweet recipes. Its creamy flesh adds sweetness and body to soups, pairs perfectly with spices in curries, and is ideal for gratins, tarts, or even cakes. Nutritionally, it is rich in beta-carotin (provitamin A), vitamin C, fibre, and minerals such as potassium and magnesium. It is low in calories and rich in antioxidants.

Orange Summer F1 squash belongs to the Cucurbita maxima group, a species native to South America introduced to Europe in the 16th century. This modern hybrid has been selected as an improvement on the famous Japanese 'Uchiki Kuri', retaining its delicate flavour while providing more regular production and simplified cultivation. Like all cucurbits, it is an annual herbaceous and monoecious plant, bearing both male and female flowers pollinated by insects to produce fruit.

Harvest squashes as late as possible, when the stalk becomes corky, and the foliage dries out. It is advisable to keep a thick stem to improve the fruit's keeping quality. Stored in a temperate room (10 to 15 °C), dry and without direct contact with each other, they can easily be kept for up to four months.

Orange Summer F1 squash likes rich, well-drained soil and a sunny position. Respecting a spacing of about 40 cm between two young plants in the row and 2.50 m between rows promotes good aeration and optimal fruit development.
As with all cucurbits, burying the stems at the node level stimulates rooting and strengthens the vigour of the young plants.
A thick organic mulch helps maintain moisture and limit weeds. To protect the fruits, it is recommended to keep them off the surface of the soil using a tile or a board to avoid any risk of rot.

The designation F1 indicates that it is a first-generation hybrid, resulting from the cross-breeding of two lines carefully selected for their complementary qualities. This produces plants with enhanced performance.
However, it is not advisable to harvest the seeds for resowing the following year: they would not produce young plants identical to the original variety, but very variable and generally less interesting subjects.