🎃 Winter Neck Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) Seeds

Grow Winter Neck Pumpkin, a traditional long-neck winter squash known for its distinctive curved neck and large, elongated fruit. The fruits develop a hard, durable rind and rich orange flesh that becomes sweeter and more flavorful as they mature. This vigorous warm-season squash is excellent for roasting, baking, soups, pies, and other winter squash dishes.

Key Details

• Botanical Name: Cucurbita moschata
• Common Name: Winter Neck Pumpkin, Winter Squash
• Type: Warm-season annual
• Days to Maturity: Approximately 100–120 days
• USDA Growing Zones: 3–11 (grown as an annual)
• Growth Habit: Vigorous trailing vine
• Fruit: Long-necked, curved winter squash. 10-20lbs
• Flesh: Orange, dense, and flavorful
• Skin: Hard and durable when mature

Features

• Distinctive elongated, curved-neck fruits
• Dense orange flesh with excellent cooking quality
• Excellent for pies, soups, purees, roasting, and baking
• Hard rind allows the mature squash to be stored for an extended period
• Vigorous vines require plenty of growing space
• Performs particularly well in warm weather

Growing Information

• Light: Full sun
• Soil: Fertile, organically rich, well-drained soil
• Seed Depth: 1 inch
• Plant Spacing: 3–4 feet
• Row Spacing: 6–8 feet
• Germination: Approximately 5–10 days
• Optimal Germination Temperature: 70–95°F

Direct sow after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed. Squash does not transplant particularly well, so direct sowing is recommended. Keep the soil consistently moist during germination and early growth.

Plant Care & Harvest

Provide plenty of space for the vigorous vines to spread, or train them carefully along a sturdy support. Regular watering is especially important during flowering and fruit development.

Harvest when the fruits are fully mature and the rind has hardened. Cut the squash from the vine with a portion of stem attached. Allowing mature winter squash to cure in a warm, dry location can help harden the rind and improve storage quality.

Note: Winter Neck Pumpkin requires a long, warm growing season. In areas with shorter growing seasons, starting seeds indoors can give the plants a head start before transplanting outdoors.