Heungbu Summer Squash (Korean “Aehobak” 애호박) C. moschata Vine Borer Resistant Open-pollinated (20 seeds)

Summer squash that keeps on bearing all season long! Aehobak is summer squash from Korea that is eaten much like a zucchini. It’s resistant to squash vine borers as a member of the C. moschata species, so plants don’t die halfway through the summer. It makes a very compact vine, about 4 feet long that is suitable for small gardens.’Heungbu’ is a brand-new open pollinated (non-hybrid) variety that I developed after 7 years of work on my farm in West Virginia. My original varieties were King Kae Ae F1 and Meot Jaeng I Ae F1, both hybrids with seeds produced in Asia. These seeds are in the F5 generation, so some variability will still be present but you can easily save your own seeds! To my knowledge, there are no other non-hybrid varieties of aehobak available in the USA at this time. I selected for compact vines, pest resistance, and long cylindrical fruit. However, ‘Heungbu’ has somewhat shorter and fatter fruit than the original hybrid at this time, and I’m continuing to improve it to be more like the original.Fruits are best picked when still shiny, at about 6 inches long. They are delicious cooked like zucchini or yellow squash and have a buttery texture and delicious mild flavor that I prefer to regular zucchini. ‘Tromboncino’ is of course another C. moschata with vine borer resistance but it’s fruit are much starchier than this and vines are many times larger.I recommend waiting to direct sow these until 2-4 weeks after your last frost, as they like more heat than regular zucchini and will grow slowly if sown too early. You can expect the first female flowers 35-40 days after planting. They will continue to bear until frost, but may enjoy some fertilizer halfway along to keep them vibrant.Pro tip: male flowers are produced a week after the first flush of female flowers, so if you have other C. moschata squash like butternuts planted early enough, they may help pollination and allow the earliest yields of aehobak. Otherwise, you can eat the whole female flowers as a delicacy and wait for the next flush of fruit to be pollinated and develop full size. Another tip, if space is a priority, the small vines of aehobak can be easily curled up in the circle around the base as they grow, preventing stray vines from branching out into your other plants.The name ‘Heungbu’ was graciously suggested by a friend, and celebrates the Korean origin of this variety by referencing a delightful Korean children’s story, the tale of Heungbu and Nolbu. In this story, magical gourds provide valuable lessons about life and kindness.Seeds produced in Morgantown, WV. Germination 95% 10-2-2024. 20 seedsNote: By purchasing these seeds, you agree to never attempt to patent or otherwise restrict the use of these seeds or their descendants.