Chinese Tropical Pumpkin seeds
Chinese Tropical pumpkins are a super sweet, almost fruity, and candy-like winter squash that is covered with attractive blue and green splotches. There is also attractive white dust or "bloom" that forms over the surface. If left to ripen off the vine, it will turn a caramel color and the sweetness intensifies greatly. The flavor has been described as sweet with notes of chestnuts and hazelnuts with an exceptionally creamy texture.
These will grow well in any climate that has at least a 3-month warm growing season. It does thrive more in hotter conditions (i.e along the coast).
A great quality to highlight on these is that they have great resistance to downey mildew. Even though this is a Winter squash, this is a little bit inaccurate as this pumpkin has a shelf life of only 3 months. So consume it/ can it / dehydrate it soon after harvest.
The other tricky thing about these is that they will climb up and over anything. These have been said to scale trees, fences, etc. You can train and use this to your advantage. If you don't have a fence or trellis, let these climb up a tree in your yard, or support them with a pergola or gazebo.
Seed count: 10
Botanic name:
C.maschata
Plant spacing:
- 18"-24" apart
- 8' - 10' for rows
Color:
Pumpkins will start out with a mottled mix of green, pink, and blue and maturing to a deep tan.
Sowing depth:
1"
Sun requirements:
Full sun
Utilization:
Do to their high brix count (sugar content) these are exellent pumpkins for pies, pastries, or other confections. These are also delicious sliced and eaten as one would a melon. Others have reported making equisite pumpkin jams or butters as well.
Frost hardy:
No
Maturity days:
120 days
Life cycle:
Annual
Can I start indoors:
Yes
Container friendly:
Yes
Other names:
N/A
Vine Habit:
Full vine
Weight:
4-5 lbs.
Disease & Pest:
Resistance to downy mildew and squash vine borers
