Tetsukabuto
Tetsukabuto is a squat, round to slightly flattened with prominent ribbing squash with fruit around 3-5 lb. Ready from roughly day 100. Germination takes 7-10 days. Space 36-48 inches apart. Full sun (6+ hours). This one is a hybrid: buy seed each season instead of saving it.
Sowing
Direct sow after last frost when soil temperature reaches 70°F, or start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost
Cultivation
- Sun
- Full sun (6+ hours)
- Water
- Regular, consistent moisture; approximately 1-1.5 inches per week
- Soil
- Well-drained, fertile loam with moderate organic matter
- Spacing
- 36-48 inches
- Height
- 4-6 feet
Appearance & flavour
- Colour
- Dark green exterior, golden-orange flesh
- Size
- 3-5 lb.
- Shape
- Squat, round to slightly flattened with prominent ribbing
- Flavour
- Sweet, nutty, with smooth dense flesh combining the best characteristics of kabocha and butternut varieties.
In the kitchen
Roasting, soups, purees, baking, side dishes, desserts, fall risotto, curry applications
Pests, disease & resistance
- Pests
- Squash vine borers, cucumber beetles, squash bugs
- Diseases
- Powdery mildew (resistant variety), downy mildew, anthracnose
- Resistance
- Powdery Mildew (Intermediate)
Planting calendar by USDA zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant | Direct sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | — | — | June – August | October – September |
| 3 | — | — | June – July | October |
| 4 | — | — | June – July | October |
| 5 | — | — | May – June | September – October |
| 6 | — | — | May – June | September – October |
| 7 | — | — | April – June | August – October |
| 8 | — | — | April – May | August – September |
| 9 | — | — | March – April | July – August |
| 10 | — | — | February – April | June – August |
| 11 | — | — | January – March | May – July |
| 12 | — | — | January – March | May – July |
| 13 | — | — | January – March | May – July |
Companion planting
8 beneficial pairings indexed for this variety, 3 to avoid.
Avoid
Nutrition (per 100 g)
- Calories (per 100 g)
- 26
- Protein (g)
- 0.52
- Fat (g)
- 0.2
- Carbohydrate (g)
- 5.64
- Sugars (g)
- 3.54
- Vitamin C (mg)
- 4.5
- Vitamin E (mg)
- 0
- Vitamin B6 (mg)
- 0.058
- Folate (µg)
- 22
- Calcium (mg)
- 9
- Iron (mg)
- 0.17
- Magnesium (mg)
- 10
- Phosphorus (mg)
- 12
- Potassium (mg)
- 205
- Zinc (mg)
- 0.07
Where to buy seed and equipment
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Cultivar facts compiled from public horticultural references including USDA GRIN and NC State Extension. Descriptions are original to this catalogue.
Grown Tetsukabuto?
Post a crop report — day counts, reservoir readings, what worked. Variety-specific logs are the most useful thing on the forum.
Similar varieties
Other squash with a comparable time to harvest, so a season that suits Tetsukabuto suits these too.
- Hubbard Blue Squash 100 days
- Marina di Chioggia Pumpkin 100 days
- Carnival Acorn Squash 100 days
- Butterscotch Winter Squash 100 days
- Buttercup Squash (Burgess Strain) 100 days
- Blue Hubbard Squash 100 days