호박 '후츠' (유기농)

Planted these in late spring and every single seed germinated, which never happens for me. The vines are now loaded with those unique dusky orange fruits, and the flavor is rich and nutty—way better than any pumpkin from the grocery store.

The skin turning from nearly black to a warm dusky orange as they ripen is such a cool visual process. I roasted one last week and the flavor was rich and nutty, exactly what I hoped for from this Japanese heirloom.

I was blown away by how quickly these seeds sprouted and how gorgeous the dark green-to-orange skin looks on the vine. The flavor is as good as everyone says—rich and sweet, perfect for roasting.