Cucurbita pepo
Origin: Corvallis, Oregon
Improvement status: Cultivar
Seeds per packet: ~20
Germination tested 11/2022: 92%
Life cycle: Annual
'Candystick Dessert Delicata' is an increasingly popular riff on Delicata from legendary plant breeder Carol Deppe. Frankly, we're not sure why anyone bothers with any other Delicata-type anymore! 'Candystick Dessert' is a large Honey Boat-type with very thick flesh for a Delicata and deliciously rich flavor. It's not unusual for a Delicata to be sweet, but 'Candystick Dessert Delicata' takes sweetness to the next level with an addictive date-like flavor. Produces both short and long squash, some with more orange striping, some with more green, a testament to the diversity that still exists in this open-pollinated variety. It's also a great keeper that hangs on to its sweetness for a long time in storage. This variety was selected in part for a small seed cavity, which means more flesh per fruit, but it also means it's not as good for stuffing compared to the average Delicata. But it more than makes up for any drawbacks with all of its useful traits! It's pretty much the perfect dessert squash. Breeder Carol Deppe of Corvallis, Oregon — who has been very good to us at EFN through the years — is author of Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties and The Resilient Gardener. She is also current board chair of the Open Source Seed Initiative.
This variety carries the Open Source Seed Initiative Pledge: “You have the freedom to use these OSSI- Pledged seeds in any way you choose. In return, you pledge not to restrict others’ use of these seeds or their derivatives by patents or other means, and to include this Pledge with any transfer of these seeds or their derivatives.”
