{"product_id":"festival-f1-winter-squash-seeds","title":"Festival F1 Winter Squash Seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – Carnival-Type Acorn Squash, Hybrid Non-GMO, Decorative Marbled Yellow-Green-Orange Rind, Sweet Flavor, Great for Fall Décor \u0026 Storage","description":"\u003cp class=\"text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.375rem] font-bold\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMinimum: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e10+ Seeds\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.375rem] font-bold\"\u003eFestival F1 Winter Squash — The Decorative Acorn That Tastes Better Than It Looks\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003eFestival F1 is what happens when a plant breeder decides that a winter squash should be beautiful enough to put on the porch before you eat it. The marbled yellow-green-orange skin looks like it was hand-painted, with no two fruits exactly alike. The semi-bush plants yield compact, perfectly portioned squashes weighing 1.5 to 2 pounds... the ideal size for cutting in half and baking. The flesh is golden, sweet, and nutty, improving in flavor as the fruit sits in storage. You can harvest in 100 days, display it for weeks, and then roast it with butter and maple syrup.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr class=\"border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho Grows Festival F1 Winter Squash?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003eHome gardeners with limited space who want full-size winter squash on semi-bush plants. Fall decorators who want edible centerpieces that taste genuinely good. Farmers market growers selling to customers who choose with their eyes first. Anyone who appreciates the economics of a 1.5-pound squash that feeds two people and actually stores well. And cooks who understand that the best decorative vegetables are the ones you can eat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr class=\"border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat This Plant Actually Is\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eCucurbita pepo\u003c\/em\u003e, a hybrid acorn squash producing distinctive marbled fruit with patches and flecks of dark green, light green, orange, and yellow. Fruits reach 4 to 5 inches and weigh 1.5 to 2 pounds at maturity. Semi-bush plants produce fruit near the crown for easy harvesting, requiring less sprawling space than traditional vining squash. Maturity is approximately 100 days from direct seeding. The thin, hard rind requires no peeling and is edible. Flesh is golden, smooth, and distinctly sweet with a nutty flavor that develops and improves during storage. Color intensity varies with growing temperature... cooler conditions produce more orange and yellow; hotter temperatures shift the balance toward green.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr class=\"border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIn the Kitchen\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"[li_\u0026amp;]:mb-0 [li_\u0026amp;]:mt-1 [li_\u0026amp;]:gap-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHalved and Baked:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cut in half, scoop seeds, roast cut-side down until tender. Serve with butter, maple syrup, or brown sugar.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStuffed:\u003c\/strong\u003e Roast the halves and stuff with rice, ground meat, vegetables, or herbs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDiced and Roasted:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cut into chunks, toss with olive oil and seasonings, roast until caramelized.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePuréed Soups:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cook flesh and blend smooth for a nutty squash soup.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFresh Dishes:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cut into slices or small pieces for stirfries, grain bowls, or braised preparations.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr class=\"border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowing Festival F1 Winter Squash\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"[li_\u0026amp;]:mb-0 [li_\u0026amp;]:mt-1 [li_\u0026amp;]:gap-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSowing:\u003c\/strong\u003e Direct sow after last frost when soil is at least 70°F. Start indoors 3-4 weeks before transplanting if earlier harvest is desired.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGermination:\u003c\/strong\u003e 7-10 days in warm soil. Minimum temperature 60°F, optimal 70-90°F.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpacing:\u003c\/strong\u003e 24-30 inches apart for semi-bush varieties to allow air circulation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSunlight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, 6+ hours daily. Adequate light develops the striped coloring.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Well-draining, fertile soil rich in organic matter. Heavy nitrogen feeder; apply fertilizer at planting and monthly during growth.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater:\u003c\/strong\u003e Consistent, moderate moisture. Avoid drought stress, which produces bitter fruit.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHarvest:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pick when skin is fully hard and resists thumbnail puncture. Leave 1-2 inches of stem attached.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCuring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Field cure for 10+ days before storage to harden skin and improve flavor.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStorage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cool location (50-60°F) with 60-70% humidity and good air circulation. Stores 3-6 months.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDays to Maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 100 days from direct seeding.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr class=\"border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBefore You Close This Page\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003eMarbled yellow-green-orange striping unlike any solid-colored squash. Perfect individual size, 1.5-2 pounds. Semi-bush plants fit tight spaces. Excellent eating quality with sweet, nutty flavor. Improves in flavor during storage. Doubles as fall décor. Hybrid F1 for uniform quality and reliable yields. Harvest in 100 days, display for weeks, eat for months.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"terramatergardens","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53860987535678,"sku":"11468","price":2.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/8836\/7166\/files\/candles-5504.png?v=1785803680","url":"https:\/\/www.terramatergardens.com\/products\/festival-f1-winter-squash-seeds","provider":"Terra Mater Gardens","version":"1.0","type":"link"}