Variety field guide
What to expect from Japanese Red Kuri (Uchiki Kuri) Winter squash Seeds
Japanese Red Kuri (Uchiki Kuri) Winter squash seeds produce red winter squash, about 3-4 lb, on vining/climbing plants.
Read the complete product descriptionTraits, flavor, garden use, variety notes, and the full catalog record
Japanese Red Kuri (Uchiki Kuri) Winter squash seeds produce red winter squash, about 3-4 lb, on vining/climbing plants. It is best suited to roasting, soup, curry, stuffed squash, purees, and gardeners who want flavorful medium-sized winter fruit. rich, nutty, chestnut-like sweetness and a creamy texture Grow red-orange teardrop squash with creamy golden flesh and the rich chestnut-like flavor behind the kuri name.
About Japanese Red Kuri (Uchiki Kuri)
Japanese Red Kuri (Uchiki Kuri) is an annual winter squash with red color, 97–120 in mature height or spread, and a vining/climbing habit. Harvest form or size: about 3-4 lb. Botanically it is Cucurbita maxima Duchesne. Maturity or first bloom: 90-99 Days; germination: 7-10 Days at 75–90 °F. Best for roasting, soup, curry, stuffed squash, purees, and gardeners who want flavorful medium-sized winter fruit. Rich, nutty, chestnut-like sweetness and a creamy texture.
History and provenance
Red Kuri, also called Uchiki Kuri, is a Japanese-type Cucurbita maxima squash recognized by red-orange teardrop fruit and chestnut-like flavor. The name kuri refers to chestnut, which describes the eating quality gardeners prize. Botanical record: Cucurbita maxima var. maxima. The broader crop history is kept separate from the documented history of the named variety. Where an exact breeder, introduction date, family story, or cultural attribution cannot be supported by a credible record, repeated claims are not presented as certain. Red Kuri squash seeds produce red-orange teardrop-shaped winter squash with smooth golden flesh. Give runners a planned direction so leaves receive air and fruit can rest on a dry surface. Female flowers need repeated pollinator visits for complete fruit set. Leave fruit on the vine until it reaches full mature color and the rind resists a thumbnail.
Growing facts
| Scientific name | Cucurbita maxima Duchesne |
|---|---|
| Life cycle | Annual |
| Maturity / first bloom | 90-99 Days |
| Germination | 7-10 Days at 75–90 °F |
| Seed depth | 1 in |
| Plant height / spread | 97–120 in |
| Growth habit | Vining/Climbing |
| Spacing | 36 in between plants; 72 in between rows |
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Soil | Loamy; pH 6.0–6.5 |
| Water | Moderate |
| Support | No-Support |
Starting Japanese Red Kuri (Uchiki Kuri) from seed
How to grow Japanese Red Kuri (Uchiki Kuri) Winter squash
Botanical identity: Cucurbita maxima Duchesne. Life cycle: Annual.
Sow 1 in and use a seed-zone temperature near 75–90 °F. Expected emergence: 7-10 Days. No stratification; direct sow into warm soil or start briefly in biodegradable cells and transplant young
Plant during Late Spring. Space plants 36 in apart with 72 in between rows or planting bands.
Provide Full sun, moderate water, and loamy near pH 6.0–6.5. Support: No-Support.
Garden performance and care
Give Japanese Red Kuri (Uchiki Kuri) enough room for its vining/climbing growth. Direct irrigation to the soil, keep developing fruit on dry mulch or boards where rot is common, and leave seed-saving fruit on the plant beyond the eating stage. Expected emergence is 7-10 Days; the listed maturity or bloom timing is 90-99 Days.
Harvest, bloom, and uses
Japanese Red Kuri (Uchiki Kuri) is best for roasting, soup, curry, stuffed squash, purees, and gardeners who want flavorful medium-sized winter fruit. Harvest form or size: about 3-4 lb. Color at the principal harvest or mature stage: Red. Rich, nutty, chestnut-like sweetness and a creamy texture.
Saving seed
Seed saving for Japanese Red Kuri (Uchiki Kuri) Select several healthy, true-to-type plants so the saved lot represents the variety rather than one unusually early or large individual. Squash and gourds are insect-pollinated and cross readily with other varieties of the same species. Confirm the species identified for this crop, then isolate by distance or controlled hand pollination. Mark seed fruit and let it reach full biological maturity; summer squash must become large and hard, winter squash must develop full rind color, and luffa or hard-shell gourds must mature well beyond the edible stage. Cure sound fruit before extraction when the crop benefits from curing. Remove, wash, and dry seed to a hard, storage-ready condition. Maintain several representative plants and record species, population, isolation, fruit selection, curing, cleaning, and test date.
Common problems
Watch Japanese Red Kuri (Uchiki Kuri) for cucumber beetles, squash bugs where applicable, aphids, powdery or downy mildew, bacterial wilt, crown rot, poor pollination, and fruit damage on wet soil. Rotate cucurbit crops, provide airflow, water at the root zone, protect young plants before flowering, and remove covers when blossoms need pollinators. Do not work wet vines.
Frequently asked questions
When is Japanese Red Kuri (Uchiki Kuri) ready?
90-99 Days from warm direct sowing or equivalent established transplant
How long does germination take?
Expect 7-10 Days near 75–90 °F; actual emergence changes with moisture, seed condition, and soil temperature.
How large does it grow?
About 97–120 in with a vining/climbing habit. Support: No-Support.
Can it grow in a container?
Best in open ground or a large raised bed; mature vines require substantial horizontal or vertical space.
How is it used?
Primary uses: roasting, soup, curry, stuffed squash, purees, and gardeners who want flavorful medium-sized winter fruit. Rich, nutty, chestnut-like sweetness and a creamy texture.
Can I save seed?
Yes where the crop biology allows, but keep compatible varieties isolated, use several healthy plants, wait for full seed maturity, dry thoroughly, and label the lot.
Minimum Seed Count:20 seeds
