Cuban Neck Pumpkin Seeds, Tropical Crookneck Moschata

monitoring for damage. Cucurbita moschata varieties are generally less susceptible to squash vine borers than many other squash, but damage is still possible. Growing conditions and care matter. Why species predicts survival here. 🌱 Free shipping on seed-only website orders $30+ , ships from Newton, Kansas. ✅ 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. See the details . 📖 Read our complete growing guide for this variety → Cuban Neck Pumpkin grew out of a seedstock collected in Cuba and carried back to the United States, where it has been grown out and selected for years, first on a Florida farm for long meaty necks and shelf life, then in the Mid-Atlantic for eating quality, colour and resistance to splitting. It is not an old catalog variety and it is not a commercial cultivar, which is why you almost never see it in American seed catalogs. It is a serious producer and a showpiece on a farmers market table. The fruit has a long curved neck (which is where the best, seedless flesh is) and a bulb at the blossom end holding the seed cavity. Skin ranges from tan to green-streaked. Flesh is dense, sweet, and a rich deep orange. The long neck is the cook's prize, all solid flesh, no waste. This variety is Cucurbita moschata. Moschata squash is generally less susceptible to squash vine borer damage than many other squash, but resistance does not mean immunity. Inspect vines for eggs, entry holes, sawdust-like frass and wilting, and continue watching for other pests and diseases. Variety Details Species: Cucurbita moschata , open-pollinated Origin: Cuba, selected in the U.S. Southeast and Mid-Atlantic Fruit size: Long crookneck, 7 to 15 lbs Skin: Tan to green-streaked Flesh: Dense, sweet, deep orange, solid through the neck Days to maturity: 115 to 125 days Storage: 4–6 months cured Vine borer resistance: Generally less susceptible; not immune Heat tolerance: Very high Rarity: Very uncommon in U.S. seed catalogs In the Kansas Garden Full sun, well-draining soil, 8–12 feet of space per plant. Cuban Neck wants heat and space to run. Direct sow after frost danger has passed and the soil is warm, ideally around 70°F. If starting indoors, sow 3 to 4 weeks before your planned transplant date, then harden off seedlings and transplant outdoors after frost danger has passed. Mulch heavy, feed with compost, and rotate cucurbits yearly. See the linked growing guide above for planting dates, spacing, and curing tips. Why Autumn Prairie Pumpkins We're a small Kansas seed operation that built its whole catalog around vine borer resistance . Every variety we sell is hand-selected, hand-packed, and shipped from Newton, Kansas. Strong soil builds strong plants, and the right variety makes the whole job easier. 🌱 Browse all vine borer resistant varieties → 🌻 See our Kansas growing guide → Will it ripen before frost? Cuban Neck Pumpkin needs 115 to 125 days from sowing. In a typical Newton, Kansas Zone 6b season the first fall frost arrives between October 10 and 20, so direct sow by about May 29 to finish with a two week cushion. Planting later, or gardening in a different zone? Check your own planting window .