{"product_id":"shishigatani-squash-seeds-rare-kyoto-heirloom","title":"Shishigatani Squash Seeds, Rare Kyoto Heirloom","description":"\u003cp class=\"product-tagline\" style=\"font-size:1.05rem;font-weight:500;margin-bottom:16px;color:#1c0f06;\"\u003eShishigatani Squash Seeds, a rare Kyoto heirloom (\u003cem\u003eCucurbita moschata\u003c\/em\u003e) and official \u003cem\u003ekyo yasai\u003c\/em\u003e traditional vegetable since the 1800s. Vine borer resistant with distinctive hourglass shape. Shipped from Kansas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0.8rem 0;padding:0.6rem 1rem;background:#f0f7e6;border-left:3px solid #6b8e3a;font-size:0.9rem;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e🌱 Free Shipping on Orders $35+\u003c\/strong\u003e, ships from Newton, Kansas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0.5rem 0 1rem;font-size:0.9rem;\"\u003e📖 \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/growing-guides\/shishigatani-squash-growing-the-rare-kyoto-heirloom-in-kansas\" style=\"color:#6b8e3a;\"\u003eRead our complete growing guide for this variety →\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eA Temple Vegetable from the Streets of Kyoto\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSince the early 1800s, Shishigatani has been one of the official \u003cem\u003ekyo yasai\u003c\/em\u003e ,  the traditional vegetables of the Kyoto region, a short list of heirlooms so tied to Japanese culture that the regional government formally protects them. Buddhist priests have grown this squash in temple gardens and cooked it in \u003cem\u003eshojin ryori\u003c\/em\u003e, the austere, vegetable-centered cuisine of Zen monasteries, for generations. It is one of the oldest continuously cultivated vegetables in Japanese history.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAnd almost nobody in the American seed market carries it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhat Makes It Different\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eShishigatani is unmistakable. The deeply ribbed and warted skin starts green and slowly turns a warm tan-brown as it ripens, developing a texture that looks almost ancient. At 110 days it has one of the longer maturity windows in our catalog, but patience pays off. The flesh inside is a delicate pale yellow, completely different from the orange of most winter squash, with a fine-grained, dry texture and a mild, clean sweetness that disappears entirely in soups and braises. It holds its shape exceptionally well when cooked, which is why Buddhist temple cooks have used it for centuries in dishes where the vegetable needs to carry the meal without falling apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is not a loud vegetable. It is a precise one.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhy It Grows Well Here\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eShishigatani is Cucurbita moschata, the same species as Seminole, Thai Kang Kob, and Waltham Butternut. That matters for Kansas and Midwest gardeners because moschata varieties carry natural resistance to the squash vine borer, the pest that kills most backyard squash before it produces anything worth harvesting. You do not need to spray. You do not need row covers. The plant handles it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlant after last frost when soil is warm. Give it room to run or train it up a trellis. Water deeply and step back. At 110 days it is one of the slower maturing squash in the garden, so plan your start date accordingly for your region.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpecies:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cucurbita moschata\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDays to maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 110 days\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlesh:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pale yellow, fine-grained, dry texture\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSkin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deeply ribbed and warted, turns tan-brown at maturity\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVine borer resistance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes, naturally, as C. moschata\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSeed saving:\u003c\/strong\u003e Open-pollinated, non-GMO. Save seed from your best fruit and replant every year.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant after:\u003c\/strong\u003e Last frost, soil temperature 60 degrees or above\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpacing:\u003c\/strong\u003e 4 to 6 feet between plants, or train vertically on a trellis\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUse:\u003c\/strong\u003e Soups, braises, tempura, shojin ryori, roasted whole\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eIn the Kitchen\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe pale yellow flesh and dry texture make Shishigatani better suited for some preparations than the denser orange moschata varieties. It absorbs broth and seasoning beautifully without going mushy, which makes it exceptional in slow-cooked soups and Japanese-style simmered dishes. Cut into large pieces, simmered in dashi with a little soy sauce and mirin, and it becomes something genuinely extraordinary. It also roasts well whole, and because the flesh is drier than most squash, it holds together cleanly when sliced.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf you have never cooked with a pale-fleshed squash before, the flavor is milder and more delicate than orange-fleshed varieties. It pairs well with subtle broths and seasoning rather than aggressive spice.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShips from Newton, Kansas. Open-pollinated, non-GMO. A legitimate piece of culinary history you can grow in your own backyard.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-top:16px;\"\u003e📖 \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/growing-guides\/shishigatani-squash-growing-the-rare-kyoto-heirloom-in-kansas\"\u003eComplete Shishigatani Growing Guide\u003c\/a\u003e, planting tips, harvest timing, and kitchen uses for Kansas Zone 6b gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e🌱 \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/vine-borer-resistant\"\u003eBrowse all vine borer resistant varieties →\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e🌻 \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/autumnprairiepumpkins.com\/pages\/kansas-garden-seeds\"\u003eSee our Kansas growing guide →\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Autumn Prairie Pumpkins","offers":[{"title":"10 Seeds","offer_id":46519245799613,"sku":"APP-SEED-MSCH-SHISHI-10","price":5.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20 Seeds","offer_id":46519245832381,"sku":"APP-SEED-MSCH-SHISHI-20","price":10.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/0335\/5581\/files\/SHISHIGATANI-PumpkinSeed2.jpg?v=1773973132","url":"https:\/\/autumnprairiepumpkins.com\/products\/shishigatani-squash-seeds-rare-kyoto-heirloom","provider":"Autumn Prairie Pumpkins","version":"1.0","type":"link"}