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Growing Neck Pumpkin in the Vegetable Garden

Neck pumpkins are a warm-season crop that demands both space and a long growing season — plan for vines that can run 8 to 10 feet or more. Direct sow seeds 1 inch deep after the last frost has passed and the soil has warmed to at least 65 F, spacing hills 36 to 48 inches apart with rows 6 to 8 feet apart. In northern zones with shorter seasons, start seeds indoors 2 to 4 weeks before your last frost date and transplant carefully once nighttime temperatures are reliably above 50 F — moschata squash resents root disturbance, so use biodegradable pots if starting indoors. Soil enriched with compost or aged manure before planting gives these heavy-producing vines the fertility they need.

Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, especially during fruit set. Water at the base of plants and avoid wetting the foliage to reduce the risk of powdery mildew. A layer of mulch helps conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and keep the developing fruit clean. Neck pumpkins are a C. moschata variety and carry a natural tolerance to squash vine borers — one of the most frustrating pests for pumpkin and squash growers — making them a more reliable crop in regions where borers are a persistent problem. Side-dress plants with compost or a balanced fertilizer once vines begin to run to support the development of large, heavy fruits.

Harvesting Neck Pumpkin

Neck pumpkins are ready to harvest when the skin has hardened to a firm, pale tan or buff-orange color and the stem has begun to dry and cork over. Press a fingernail into the skin — if it does not easily penetrate, the fruit is ready. Cut from the vine with a sharp knife or pruning shears, leaving at least 2 inches of stem attached to help prevent rot at the stem end. Cure harvested fruits in a warm, dry, well-ventilated spot for 10 to 14 days to harden the skin further and improve storage life. Properly cured Neck Pumpkins can keep for 3 to 6 months or more in a cool, dry location around 55 F. The long neck is nearly all solid flesh and is exceptionally easy to prepare; simply slice it into rings and bake, cube it for soups and stews, or steam and puree it for pies. The seeds are neatly compacted in the bulb end, making cleaning simple.

About Neck Pumpkin Garden Seeds

The Neck Pumpkin is a Pennsylvania Dutch heirloom with roots reaching back to at least the early 1800s. It is closely related to butternut squash — both belong to Cucurbita moschata — and is believed by some historians to descend from the Canada Crookneck, a variety documented in North American seed catalogs as early as 1834. It has been a staple of Amish and Mennonite kitchen gardens in Pennsylvania and surrounding regions for generations, prized above all for pie-making.

The genius of the Neck Pumpkin's shape is practical as much as distinctive. The elongated, curved neck is almost entirely solid flesh with no seed cavity, meaning a very high proportion of each fruit is usable food. A single large specimen can yield enough puree for a dozen or more pies, making it one of the most productive edible pumpkins a home gardener can grow.

As a C. moschata variety, the Neck Pumpkin shares the species' well-documented tolerance to squash vine borers — an insect that can wipe out entire plantings of C. pepo and C. maxima types. For gardeners in the eastern United States, where vine borers are a serious recurring problem, this characteristic alone makes it a compelling choice.

Tips From Our Gardeners

Give Neck Pumpkins room, and they will reward you generously — but if garden space is limited, try directing the vines along a fence line or training them out of the bed entirely into a nearby grass area. The fruits are heavy, so if you attempt to trellis them, fashion a sling from old fabric or mesh netting under each developing pumpkin to support the weight as it grows.

- Jerry Sawyer, True Leaf Market Writer

Neck Pumpkin Seeds Per Package:

• 4 g Packet - Approximately 20 Seeds
• 1 oz - Bulk Seeds - Approximately 210 Seeds
• 4 oz - Bulk Seeds - Approximately 850 Seeds
• 1 lb - Wholesale - Approximately 3,400 Seeds