The Butternut Pumpkin ( Cucurbita pepo ) are in many people’s opinions the yummiest. They have a sweet nutty flavour similar to a sweet potato, that is hard to resist. This variety is an heirloom variety developed in the USA in 1944. Butternut Pumpkin is a warm season variety and is frost tender, so in cooler zones it is best to start them indoors around 6 weeks before your last frosts are expected.
Pumpkin is fat free and a great source of vitamins and minerals, as well as fibre. There are also many health benefits from eating pumpkin. Butternut Pumpkin is quite easy to grow and can provide up to 10-20 fruits per plant if the soil and temperature conditions are ideal. It also stores well at up to 6 months and the best flavour comes a month or so after harvesting! Store at 10°C / 50°C or in the fridge.
Growth
The Butternut Pumpkin is an annual vining plant. It is often grown along the ground and can take up around a 1 metre square, however, can be grown up a trellis as long as the trellis is strong enough to support it, its vines can get as long as 10-12 metres long! Pumpkin needs nutritious soil to provide a good crop, so a compost rich soil is essential. The seeds and flowers are also edible, but it is best to avoid eating the flowers to maximise yield.
A full sun position is needed to fully ripen its pear-shaped fruit, so pick a nice sunny spot in the garden for this variety. Over fertilising can cause the plant to put all its energy into growing larger instead of producing fruit, so unless you have poor soil, or it seems necessary; they usually don’t require any fertilising. Harvest from seed normally averages at around 90-115 days, the pumpkins are ready once the stalk starts to shrivel, and it has a hollow sound when tapped on.
Can be grown in pots/containers but they need to be large and deep.
Note: Germination instructions can be found in the ‘Germination Instructions Tab’ below. Upon purchase you will receive these detailed instructions via email so that you have a permanent record.
FAMILY:
Cucurbitaceae
CLIMATE:
Cold, Temperate, Sub Tropical & Tropical
TEMPERATURE RANGE:
12 to 35°C / 54 to 95°F
SOIL TYPE:
Compost rich, well-draining soil.
LOCATION:
Full Sun
HEIGHT:
Up to 10 metres (32 feet)
WIDTH:
Up to 10 metres (32 feet)
pH:
6.0-6.8
GROWTH TYPE:
Annual
WATER REQUIREMENTS:
Medium – will need extra water during warmer weather.
POLLINATION:
Bees, Insects. Monoecious
MATURITY:
Approximately 90-115 days
GERMINATION RATES:
78-90%
GERMINATION TIME:
1-2 weeks
SEEDS PER GRAM:
Approximately 8-12 seeds
MEDICINAL QUALITIES:
Yes
WEED POTENTIAL:
No
EDIBLE:
Yes.
SEED STORAGE & VIABILITY:
Store a 4°C (fridge) for 5 years.
FACTS ABOUT CUCURBITA MOSCHATA (Butternut Pumpkin)
Butternut Pumpkin is related to cucumbers and melons.
Pumpkin seeds are edible and are a rich source of omega 3 fatty acids and zinc. They are sold this way commercially and are very tasty.
The Pumpkin is also known as Squash in many countries.
