How Growing My Own Japanese pumpkin 'Ebisu Kabocha' Taught Me to Save Better Seeds and Improve Flavor Next Year

By Theodore West Published on

Hi, Today I spent some time collecting the seeds I’ll be planting in my garden next spring. The variety is a Western-type Japanese pumpkin called "Ebisu Kabocha" The squash I saved seeds from was part of my second round of harvests, which meant the flavor of the fruit itself was noticeably mild, something that often happens late in the season. Still, each squash produces a generous number of seeds, making it surprisingly cost-effective. Whether next year’s plants will set fruit well is something I won’t know until I evaluate them, but that uncertainty is part of the excitement of gardening.

Saving Seeds from My Homegrown Ebisu Kabocha

This fall, harvesting my homegrown 'Japanese Ebisu kabocha' made me consider what factors actually influence the flavor, and how I can grow sweeter, richer squash next year. After investigating and reflecting on my results, I realized that all the important factors can be grouped into two main categories.

1. Plant Health and Resource Management

The condition of the plant and how it allocates energy is critical for both fruit quality and seed production. By mid- to late summer, the vine may become fatigued, especially if too many fruits are developing at once. This can result in late-season squash that are less sweet.

Key actions to improve plant health:

  • Limit each plant to 2–3 fruits so the energy is concentrated on the earliest and most promising ones
  • Remove late-developing fruits to prevent energy drain
  • Maintain healthy leaves through proper care to maximize photosynthesis, including straw mulch to conserve moisture and improving airflow to prevent disease
  • Apply a light, balanced mid-season feeding, avoiding excess nitrogen that promotes leaf growth at the expense of flavor

2. Timing, Harvesting, and Seed Management

When squash is harvested too early or not cured properly, peak flavor is not achieved. Similarly, seed quality depends on choosing fully mature, healthy fruits.

Best practices:

  • Harvest when the stem is dry and corky
  • Cure the squash for 2–3 weeks in a warm, shaded, well-ventilated area
  • Select fruits with good shape, color, and taste for seed saving
  • Avoid cross-pollination by isolating varieties or using hand pollination
  • Wash seeds and dry them completely in the shade; well-dried seeds should snap cleanly if bent

Looking Ahead: Improving Next Year’s Harvest

Gardening is a yearly learning experience, and saving seeds adds to the satisfaction. While my later-season fruits were milder than hoped, the process taught me valuable lessons about plant energy, timing, and selection.

Next spring I plan to:
  • Limit each plant to just a few early fruits
  • Keep the vines healthier through the late season
  • Improve my curing process
  • Save seeds only from the best-tasting fruits

With these adjustments, I aim for sweeter, richer Ebisu kabocha next year and I can’t wait to see how the seeds I saved will perform.

Season:
Location: Fujimi, Suwa District, Nagano, Japan

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bear Sightings Surge Across Japan in 2025: Latest Updates and Safety Alerts

By Theodore West Published on
Image
This isn’t just a concern for travelers—it applies to us farmers as well! This year, the number of bear sightings and injuries has been especially high. I even carry bear spray with me when I’m working in the fields. Japan Deploys Troops to Battle BEAR ATTACKS After 12 People Killed Source: New York Post 1. Why Bear Sightings Are Increasing in Japan Bear encounters in Japan, especially in northern regions like Hokkaido, have surged in 2025. Experts cite several reasons: Growing bear populations: Conservation efforts and reduced hunting have increased the number of bears. Food shortages: Poor acorn and nut harvests have forced bears to venture closer to towns and parks. Urban encroachment and abandoned farmland: Depopulation of rural areas has left forests and fields unmanaged, providing bears with easy access to human areas. This combination of ecological and human factors has led to more frequent sightings and occasional attacks, prompting autho...
Read more

Professional Tree Removal: Crucial Guidelines for Rural Homestead Safety and Risk Management

By Theodore West Published on
Image
Hey there, how are you doing today? I hope everything is going well. I am doing great, as usual. Today, I want to share my experience with a particularly high-risk tree removal task that someone inexperienced, like me, should never attempt alone. Make sure you pay close attention, because this is not just a story, it is a lesson in safety, risk management, and responsible homestead maintenance. Many people with a bit of knowledge or limited experience in tree cutting often think they can handle these tasks on their own. I used to be tempted to do the same. However, when I evaluated this situation, I realized it was not worth the potential danger. The tree I needed to remove was standing extremely close to another person’s property. As anyone familiar with homestead or rural property management knows, this kind of scenario can easily lead to serious liability issues, compensation claims, and legal conflicts with neighboring landowners. Even the smallest miscalculation could escalate...
Read more

Ten Minutes to Understand How to Build a Direct Farm to Tokyo Produce Delivery Network

By Theodore West Published on
Image
 I always start my mornings before the sun rises. On the farm I am up at four a.m. long before most people are awake. In this season bears sometimes come close so I adjust my start time a little to stay safe. When I walk into the fields the air is crisp and cold and I drink a hot cup of coffee while I breathe in the clean fresh air. That is my favorite part of the day. It is quiet and peaceful. I am alone with the land and it feels like the world belongs only to me. Maybe some of you have had a moment like this. I really love this time and I would not trade it for anything. Azusa Limited Express Train Front View at the Station On Thursdays my routine changes. Most of the week I live the slow grounded life on the farm but on Thursdays I catch the first Azusa train to Tokyo for my main job. I commute from a rural area to the city and this dual life is a big part of my story. I book my seat...
Read more