Long Island Cheese Pumpkin Seeds

Cheese if your garden plans start with the kitchen. This classic pie pumpkin needs more room than a compact bush squash. Before you choose your packet What you receive: Seeds for gardening. Choose a 10 or 20 seed packet; fruit and plants are not included. Seed type: Open-pollinated heirloom Species: Cucurbita moschata Maturity: About 100 to 110 days Fruit: Flattened, ribbed fruit with a buff rind and orange flesh; typically 6 to 10 pounds, with size varying by growing conditions Space: 3 to 4 feet between plants; rows 6 to 8 feet apart Vines: Spreading vines; allow a generous bed or ground-level patch Packed and shipped from Newton, Kansas. Seed-only website orders of $30 or more qualify for free shipping under our shipping policy . Germination Promise: if your seeds fail to germinate under proper growing conditions, contact us within one year and we will replace them or refund your purchase. Read the details . Choosing between two cooking pumpkins? Compare Seminole and Long Island Cheese for vine space, harvest timing, kitchen uses and saving your own seed. Planting and care Plant after frost danger has passed and the soil is consistently warm, ideally around 70°F or warmer. Sow about 1 inch deep in well-drained soil with full sun. Keep the seed zone evenly moist, not waterlogged. If starting indoors, sow 2 to 3 weeks before transplanting, harden off seedlings and avoid disturbing the roots. In Kansas, plan these pumpkins for spring planting and a fall harvest. Count backward from your local first-frost date using the longer maturity estimate, then allow extra time for weather delays. An autumn or winter order is generally for planning the next Kansas growing season. Wait until frost danger has passed and the soil has warmed before planting outdoors. Vine borer resistance Moschata pumpkins are useful choices where squash vine borers are a problem, but resistance varies and does not mean immunity. Check vines regularly for eggs, entry holes, sawdust-like frass and wilting. Keep watching for squash bugs and other pests too. From the garden to the kitchen Roast until the flesh is tender, then puree for pie, pumpkin bread or soup. Drain watery puree if your recipe needs a thicker texture. Harvest mature fruit before a hard freeze and keep sound fruit in a dry, ventilated storage space. About this variety Long Island Cheese is a traditional American heirloom with a long association with pie making. Its familiar name comes from its broad, flattened shape. Common questions Which packet should I choose? Choose 10 seeds for a smaller planting or 20 seeds for a larger plan and backup sowing. Packet count is the number of seeds, not a promise of plants or fruit. Can I save seed for next year? This heirloom is open-pollinated. For seed that stays true to the variety, prevent crossing with other Cucurbita moschata plants. Bag unopened male and female blossoms, hand-pollinate using the same variety, rebag the female flower and label the pollination. Store fully dried saved seed in a cool, dry place. Will these grow in Kansas? In Kansas, plan these pumpkins for spring planting and a fall harvest. Count backward from your local first-frost date using the longer maturity estimate, then allow extra time for weather delays. An autumn or winter order is generally for planning the next Kansas growing season. Wait until frost danger has passed and the soil has warmed before planting outdoors. When is Long Island Cheese pumpkin ready to harvest? Look for the mature buff-colored rind, a hard skin and a stem that is drying and becoming woody. Allow about 100 to 110 days, adjusting for growing conditions. Cut the fruit from the vine with the stem attached before frost, and handle it gently to avoid storage damage. Growing time, germination, fruit size and yield depend on temperature, soil, pollination and care. Plan the rest of your patch Read the Long Island Cheese Pumpkin growing guide Browse vine borer resistant seeds Kansas garden planning guide Seminole Pumpkin seeds Autumn Frost F1 seeds