Cucurbita pepo Starry Night F1 PMT – striking acorn squash with high yield and excellent culinary qualities

Cucurbita pepo Starry Night F1 PMT is a unique and high-quality acorn squash variety that immediately attracts attention with its black-green skin and striking creamy white and gold stripes. This F1 hybrid variety combines high productivity with compact vines and excellent stability, making it a reliable choice for both hobby growers and professional producers of ornamental and table squash.

Unique color and striking shape

Starry Night F1 is an acorn squash weighing 1 to 1.3 kilograms per fruit. The fruits are larger than many other ornamental squashes, with a robust, cylindrical acorn-shaped structure. The striking color pattern of black-green with creamy gold and yellow stripes gives this squash an exclusive look that is ideal for autumn decorations and market displays.

The fruits retain their internal quality and firmness even into winter, making them excellent for:

• autumn and Christmas decorations

• sales in retail and at markets

• creative table decorations and flower arrangements

Culinary applications – delicious filled or grilled

Although Starry Night F1 is often prized for its ornamental value, the variety is also excellent for consumption. Acorn squashes are popular in the United States, where they are often halved and baked, for example, with a drizzle of maple syrup. The flesh is tender, sweet, and full of flavor, making the squash ideal for:

• to be filled with grains, meat or vegetables

• to roast or gratinate

• to be processed in soups and stews

• as a puree or side dish

The weight of 1–1.3 kg makes the fruits handy and easy to portion.

High production and very stable

Starry Night F1 is known for its stable and consistent yield. Plants reliably produce uniform fruits, which simplifies planning and sales. The variety combines compact growth with short vines, making it suitable for:

• smaller gardens and beds

• intensive cultivation in limited space

• professional cultivation for market sales

Thanks to their compact habit, the plants are easy to care for and provide good air circulation around the leaves, which reduces the risk of disease.

Maturation time of 95 days – predictable harvest

With a ripening time of approximately 95 days, Starry Night F1 is a mid-season variety. The fruits ripen evenly and retain their color and internal quality for a long time, making harvest and sales easy to plan. The combination of reliable fruit development and robustness makes the variety very attractive to both amateur and professional growers.

Cultivation advice for optimal growth

Starry Night F1 grows best in warm, well-drained, and fertile soil. There are two ways to sow:

• Sow from the end of April, and plant out after the last night frost.

• Sow directly from early May, as soon as the soil is sufficiently warm.

For optimal germination, a temperature of 24–30°C is ideal. The seeds should be placed pointed-side down or flat and kept slightly moist, but not wet. After germination, the young plants should be placed in a bright, cooler location to promote compact, strong growth.

Planting distance and space requirements

Starry Night F1 produces short vines and requires relatively little space. For healthy development and maximum fruit set, approximately 1 m² per plant is recommended. This provides sufficient light, air circulation, and nutrient space for optimal growth and yield.