Butternut Squash, Winter Squash, Calabaza, Cuban Pumpkin, Zapallo

Cucurbitamoschata

Family
Cucurbitaceae (koo-ker-bih-TAY-see-ee)
Genus
Cucurbita (koo-KER-bih-ta)
Species
moschata (MOSS-kuh-ta)
Synonym
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Foliage
Herbaceous
Good Fall Color
Height
8-10 ft. (2.4-3 m)
Spacing
36-48 in. (90-120 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Danger
Handling plant may cause skin irritation or allergic reaction
Plant has spines or sharp edges; use extreme caution when handling
Bloom Color
Gold (yellow-orange)
Pale Yellow
Bright Yellow
Bloom Time
Blooms repeatedly
Other Details
Category
Vegetables
Vines and Climbers
Water Requirements
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Foliage Color
Where to Grow
Bloom Characteristics
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Bloom Size
Other details
May be a noxious weed or invasive
Soil pH requirements
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information
Propagation Methods
From seed; sow indoors before last frost
From seed; direct sow after last frost
Seed Collecting
Allow unblemished fruit to ripen; clean and dry seeds
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

San Diego, California

Santa Cruz, California

Bartow, Florida

Fort Myers, Florida

Orlando, Florida

Rockledge, Florida

Sebastian, Florida

Greenwood, Missouri

Wake Forest, North Carolina

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Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

5
positives
1
neutral
0
negative
Sort By:
Sort By:
D
Wake Forest, NC | December 2012 | positive

Calabaza West Indies Pumpkin Squash Seeds came from the Caribbean St Kitts Island. Mid March 2012 planting under Growlite in basement, th...Read More

C
Morganton, NC | June 2012 | positive

Currently growing zapallo in Morganton,NC. The vines are vigorous and are growing with sunflowers and have a few squash on the vines now....Read More

M
Upton, MA | August 2010 | neutral

The plant itself is growing like wildfire--lots of blooms, lots of bees buzzing around. It has escaped the chain link fence and is heade...Read More

B
B
Hohenwald, TN | August 2010 | positive

does anyone have these seeds?

R
Santa Cruz, CA | August 2005 | positive

I've grown these in San Diego and Santa Cruz, CA. Great results in both locales. Current plant growing like crazy, have had to restrict...Read More

M
Erwin, TN (Zone 7a) | October 2002 | positive

Verry vigorous vine/can grow or spread to 60'/branched tendrils will wrap around anything they contact/large squashlike leaves with white...Read More

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