Cornell Bush Delicata Squash was bred to be an improved, more disease resistant and higher yield version of Delicata Squash.
The main visual difference will be the rind colour: while the original Delicata is creamy-yellow coloured, the improved Cornell version has an ivory-coloured rind.
This Cornell version is an open-pollinated compact bush plant that grows up to 40 cm (16 inches) tall, though part-way through the season it will send runners out 1 ¼ to 2 metres (4 to 6 feet.)
The squash is 20 cm (8 inches) long and 10 cm (4 inches) wide, and will weigh about ½ kg (1.1 pounds.)
The hard rind has an ivory background, with dark-green stripes and dark-green flecks. Having a harder rind than its forebear, heritage Delicata Squash, gives it a longer storage life and makes it easier to ship.
Inside, Cornell Bush Delicata Squash has finely-textured orange flesh with a sweet taste.
80 to 100 days from seed.
Storage Hints
Cornell Bush Delicata Squash will store in a cool place up to 3 months or at room temperature for 3 weeks.
History Notes
Cornell Bush Delicata Squash was developed at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.
One of the parents was a Delicata Squash, purchased by a Cornell professor named Henry Munger in the late 1980s at a grocery store in Ithaca, New York. He gave the seeds to Molly Jahn, an associate professor of plant breeding, along with George Moriarty, a research plant breeder. They planted the seeds, and crossed the plants that grew from them with Acorn Squash, and after many selections, arrived at the new variety.
Released 2001.
Sources
Friedlander, Blaine P. CU-developed squash variety is a 2002 All-America Selection. Ithaca, New York: Cornell Chronicle. 25 October 2001.