Table Star

Family: Cucurbitaceae Vegetable

Sink your spoon into Table Star’s velvety, deep-orange flesh—sweet, richly flavored, and famously smooth in texture.

This 90-day winter squash develops a sturdy, handsome rind that roasts to a fragrant tenderness, making it a standout for hearty purees, baked wedges, and spoonable sauces. Grow one and you’ll be rewarded with a dependable, market-class harvest that keeps its charm long after the first cool nights arrive.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 90 DaysHabit: Vine

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Direct Sow
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jul 24th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	90
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Vine
Support Needed	Trellis
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	65
Min Night Temp (°F)	55
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Table Star’s standout is that spoon-smooth, velvety interior—once it’s roasted, it turns into a puree that behaves like a thick sauce instead of stringy mash. Use it for silky soups and spoonables where its sweetness and gentle roast aromatics can stay in the driver’s seat.

Best Uses

roast-to-puree rillettes or silken soup base
baked wedge trays with browned edges
spoonable squash sauce for gnocchi or pork
thickening and smoothing components in risotto or polenta

Flavor Profile

sweet, rounded squash flavor velvety, deep-orange flesh smooth, spoonable texture after roasting fragrant, caramel-like roast notes

Kitchen Pairings

sage brown butter garlic ginger coconut milk smoked paprika

Frequently Asked Questions

What pests or diseases commonly affect Cucurbita pepo (Table Star) and what should I do?

Cucurbita pepo often suffers from powdery mildew and cucumber beetles. Start by watering only at the base to keep leaves dry, remove badly infected leaves, and improve airflow between plants. Use row cover early to block cucumber beetles, then switch to spot treatments as needed if beetles persist; avoid wetting foliage at any point in the day.

How often should I water Table Star while it’s growing (Cucurbita pepo), and what soil moisture target should I maintain?

During the main vine and fruit set phase, keep soil evenly moist—about 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week total, split across 2–3 deep waterings if it’s hot. Let the top 1 inch of soil dry slightly between waterings, but don’t allow plants to wilt or the root zone to dry out for long periods, which can reduce fruit set and size.

How can I tell when Table Star (Cucurbita pepo) is ready to harvest?

Harvest when the fruit reaches its full color and size for the variety and the rind feels firm and hard, not easily punctured with a fingernail. The stem should start to dry, and the fruit’s surface should look fully developed; at around 90 days to maturity, begin checking every few days to avoid overripe fruit.