Kabocha
Plant Date: April 21st (indoors)
Transplant Date: May 12th (2 weeks after last average frost date)
Planting: Plant the seeds an inch deep and one to a pot. They should sprout within a week. Before transplanting, till in aged compost and a balanced fertilizer. Plant the seedlings several feet apart. You can also use a trellis if you like.
Care: Keep the plants well watered as kabocha is quick to wilt if it gets dry. The male flowers will bloom first, followed by the female flowers which have a small immature fruit at the base. You may need to pollinate these yourself.
Harvest: Wait until the kabocha stem starts to dry out and turn brown before you harvest them. After harvesting allow the fruits to continue ripening in a warm dry place for two weeks. Then move them to a cool dry place (like a basement or cellar) for about a month. This will allow the starches to turn to sugar.