Variety
Delicata
A small, striped heritage squash with a thin, edible skin and sweet, creamy flesh
Delicata is a compact, cylindrical winter squash with cream skin marked by distinctive dark green stripes and a thin, completely edible skin that eliminates the peeling step that many people find off-putting with squash. The flesh is sweet, pale yellow, and creamy. Plants produce more, smaller fruit than large squash varieties — ideal for a single portion and perfect for grilling whole.
Flavour
Sweet, mild, and slightly creamy with a gentle squash flavour that's more accessible than strongly nutty varieties. The thin, edible skin becomes soft and tender when cooked. A good entry-level squash for those new to winter varieties, and genuinely excellent for preparations where the whole squash goes on the grill or into the oven unpeeled.
In the kitchen
Outstanding for grilling whole — halve lengthways, remove seeds, brush with butter and brown sugar, and grill cut-side down over indirect heat for 35–45 minutes. The thin skin caramelises beautifully. Also excellent sliced into rings (skin on), roasted at 200°C, or stuffed with a grain filling and baked. The single-serving size makes it ideal for individual portions.
Growing
More compact than large winter squash varieties — plants still trail but are more manageable than Crown Prince or Uchiki Kuri. Produces higher yields of smaller fruit. Harvest when cream-coloured with prominent dark green stripes; a fully ripe Delicata turns cream-yellow with green stripes. Stores for 3–4 months. Good for first-time squash growers.