Customer Service Hours
Mon-Fri 8-4 MST
Features
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Native
United States and Northern Mexico
Life Cycle
Annual
Plant Height
Vine
Further Information
Growing Conditions
Frost Sensitive
About Honey Boat Winter Delicata Squash Seeds
Cucurbita pepo
6"–8" long, 3" diameter, and about ¾–1 pounds. Outer shell is ribbed, yellow-tan with green stripes and flecks; flesh is golden orange. Developed by Oregon State University vegetable breeder Jim Baggett in 1988, 'Honey Boat' is a staple of the Oregon Thanksgiving dinner.
Planting Squash
Days to Maturity
90 days
Plant Spacing
2–3 seeds per mound
Light Required
Full sun
Plant Height
Vine
Planting Depth
½–1"
Coverage & Planting Details
| Coverage | This packet sows up to 9 mounds. |
|---|---|
| Row Spacing | 4'–6' |
| Seed Depth | ½–1" |
| Seed Spacing | 2–3 seeds per mound |
| Thinning | When 3" leaves, thin to 1–2 per mound |
| Germination | 5–10 days |
| Start Indoors | Not recommended except in very short growing seasons, 2 to 4 weeks before transplanting. Roots are sensitive to disturbance; sow in biodegradable pots that can be planted directly into the ground. Transplant when soil temperature is at least 60°F. |
| Direct Sow | RECOMMENDED. 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date, and when soil temperature is 70°–85°F. |
| Growing & Harvesting | Harvest when the squash's rind is hard enough that you can't dent it with your fingernail and before first frost. Cut stem, (don't break it off) leaving 2" of stem attached, which keeps the squash whole, leaving no opening for infection. Though fruits are hard and may seem indestructible, treat them gently; bruising can spoil squash. |
Find Your Frost Date & Grow Zone
Average First Frost Date
October 19
Average Last Frost Date
May 19
Your Hardiness Zone is
5b
Send Your Recommendation
Total 5 star reviews: 14 Total 4 star reviews: 0 Total 3 star reviews: 0 Total 2 star reviews: 1 Total 1 star reviews: 2
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Rating
Which best describes you as a gardener?
17 reviews
- VeneseRated 5 out of 5 stars2/6/265 Stars
I love BI seeds and products.
- SunnyRated 5 out of 5 stars1/20/26Amazing Results
Delicata squash came up great. Low maintenance care and stores well. Its sweet and nutty taste makes it a versatile ingredient in the kitchen. It keeps its espetacular taste very well after freezing. Please, give this one a try!
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateBIBotanical Interests1/20/26Hey Sunny,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your amazing experience with our Honey Boat Winter Delicata Squash Seeds! We love to hear about the great germination and how low maintenance they were for you! It's wonderful that you've discovered how well they store and that sweet, nutty flavor that makes them so versatile in the kitchen. We're so excited that they maintain their spectacular taste even after freezing - what a fantastic tip for other gardeners! Thank you for the enthusiastic recommendation and for choosing us. Keep on growing 🌻️
- Brittny S.VA, United StatesVerified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars9/19/25Beautiful plants
These plants got huge and very prolific. Germination was great and the produced well.
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateWho do you grow for? YourselfHow do you prefer to grow? Raised Bed - Holly C.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars8/15/25Tasty with a zest for life!
It is entirely possible that the first time you taste this squash you will become incredibly angry that it is not available in the grocery store. Then, this plant will quadruple in size, and you will be filled with joy at your abundance of scrumptious squash.
I directly sowed this about 4 weeks after our last frost and had no issues with germination. I spaced them about 2 ft apart with a trellis, but you can see that these plants demanded more room to grow - in early July. It's very prolific - there are 20 uneaten squash on my counter right now and about 10 more to be harvested in the next 3 days. You absolutely will not regret this plant!
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateBIBotanical Interests8/15/25Hey Holly,
Thank you so much for sharing your hilarious and spot-on experience with our Honey Boat Winter Delicata Squash Seeds! We absolutely love your description - that moment of "grocery store rage" when you realize what you've been missing is so real! And then the pure joy when you see just how prolific these plants can be - 20 squash on your counter with more coming is exactly the kind of abundance that makes growing your own so rewarding! It sounds like your plants really took off and showed you what they're capable of when they get established. We're thrilled that the germination went smoothly and that you're discovering just how incredible this variety truly is. Your enthusiasm is contagious! Keep on growing 🌻️
- Lauren K.Verified BuyerRated 2 out of 5 stars10/12/242 Stars
These seeds did not survive transplant for me.
Which best describes you as a gardener? Intermediate