10 Best Pumpkins & Squash to Grow in Kansas (Zone 6b Guide)
By Autumn Prairie Pumpkins
Kansas summers are no joke. Temperatures push into the 100s, humidity rolls in from the south, and squash vine borers descend on most pumpkin plants by mid-July. If you've planted a standard carving pumpkin in Kansas and watched it collapse before it even set fruit, you already know the story.
The good news: the right varieties change everything. After growing and testing pumpkins and squash in Newton, Kansas, Zone 6b, clay-heavy soil, full Kansas heat, here are the ten varieties that consistently earn their garden space.
What Makes a Great Kansas Pumpkin?
Before the list, here's what we're looking for. A great Kansas pumpkin needs to:
- Tolerate heat. July and August in Kansas regularly hit 95–105°F. Varieties that stall or shut down in heat will miss their window to mature.
- Handle humidity. Southern Kansas summers bring humid stretches that favor fungal disease. Varieties with good air circulation on the vine and some disease resistance fare better.
- Resist (or survive) squash vine borers. Vine borers are the single biggest pumpkin killer in the Midwest. Cucurbita moschata species have thick, hard stem tissue that makes it difficult for borer larvae to establish. C. pepo varieties, your standard Jack-o'-lanterns and zucchini, are far more vulnerable.
- Mature within the season. Zone 6b gives you roughly May 15 to October 1 before hard frost risk rises. Varieties with 90+ days to maturity need to be direct-seeded by early June at the latest.
Prefer a side-by-side view? See our full comparison chart of the best pumpkin and squash seeds for Kansas gardens, with days to maturity, fruit size, vine borer resistance, and storage life for every variety.
The 10 Best Pumpkins & Squash for Kansas Gardens
1. Seminole Pumpkin
Days to maturity: 90–100 | Species: C. moschata | Vine borer resistance: Very high
The Seminole is the gold standard for vine borer resistance in Kansas. Originally cultivated by the Seminole people of Florida, this variety thrives in heat and humidity, conditions that spell disaster for most other pumpkins. The tan, football-shaped fruits weigh 5–12 lbs with sweet orange flesh. Critically, the thick-walled moschata stems are nearly impenetrable to borer larvae once plants pass the seedling stage. We grow Seminole every single year at Autumn Prairie, and it delivers.
2. Waltham Butternut Squash
Days to maturity: 80–85 | Species: C. moschata | Vine borer resistance: High
The Waltham Butternut is the most reliable squash for Kansas gardens. An All-America Selections winner, it matures quickly (80–85 days), produces prolifically, and handles Zone 6b heat without complaint. The 8–12 lb fruits store exceptionally well through winter. Start seeds indoors 3–4 weeks before your last frost date (mid-April in most of Kansas) for the earliest harvest.
Shop Waltham Butternut Seeds →
3. Dickinson Pumpkin
Days to maturity: 100–115 | Species: C. moschata | Vine borer resistance: High
The Dickinson is the original Libby's pie pumpkin, the variety behind most canned pumpkin in the United States. Large, tan-skinned fruits (15–40 lbs) with incredibly fine-grained, sweet flesh. It's a longer-season variety, so direct seed by late May to ensure maturity before frost. The moschata genetics make it highly resistant to vine borers. If you're growing pumpkin for the kitchen, the Dickinson is hard to beat.
Shop Dickinson Pumpkin Seeds →
4. Long Island Cheese Pumpkin
Days to maturity: 95–105 | Species: C. moschata | Vine borer resistance: High
Named for its resemblance to a wheel of cheese, the Long Island Cheese is a Connecticut and Long Island heirloom with excellent performance in the Midwest. Flat, deeply ribbed fruits (6–15 lbs) with rich, sweet flesh perfect for pies, soups, and roasting. It thrives in Kansas heat and keeps well into spring without refrigeration. One of our most popular varieties for good reason.
Shop Long Island Cheese Seeds →
5. Thai Kang Kob Pumpkin
Days to maturity: 85–90 | Species: C. moschata | Vine borer resistance: Very high
Originally from Thailand, the Thai Kang Kob is built for tropical conditions, which makes it surprisingly well-suited to Kansas summers. Dense, dry flesh with a deep orange color and excellent storage life. The Thai Kang Kob is also notably resistant to powdery mildew, a common problem in Kansas's humid late-summer conditions. A great dual-purpose variety: grows easily and tastes exceptional.
6. Musquée de Provence
Days to maturity: 110–120 | Species: C. moschata | Vine borer resistance: High
The showstopper of the list. These deeply ribbed, slate-gray pumpkins turn rich cinnamon-brown at maturity and can weigh 20–35 lbs. Originally from the south of France, the Musquée de Provence develops intense sweetness, almost butterscotch-flavored flesh, with long storage life. It needs a full season (plant by late May), but Kansas's long warm window makes it viable. Stunning at fall markets and farmers markets.
Shop Musquée de Provence Seeds →
7. Green Striped Cushaw
Days to maturity: 90–100 | Species: C. argyrosperma | Vine borer resistance: Very high
The Cushaw is a Native American heirloom grown across the South for centuries, and for good reason: it is virtually immune to squash vine borers. The argyrosperma species shares the thick stem structure of moschata, making it inhospitable to borer larvae. Curved, cream-and-green striped fruits (10–20 lbs) with mild, sweet flesh ideal for pies and roasting. Extremely vigorous vines that can handle Kansas heat.
8. Black Futsu Squash
Days to maturity: 85–90 | Species: C. moschata | Vine borer resistance: High
A Japanese heirloom with dramatic looks, deeply warted, dark green skin that fades to tan at maturity. Compact fruits (3–5 lbs) make it manageable in smaller gardens. The Black Futsu has a rich, chestnut-flavored flesh that works beautifully roasted or in soups. The compact vine size makes it one of the better options for gardeners working with limited space in a Kansas backyard.
9. Pennsylvania Dutch Crookneck
Days to maturity: 100–110 | Species: C. moschata | Vine borer resistance: High
A Pennsylvania German heirloom with centuries of history, the Crookneck produces large, curved squash (15–30 lbs) with golden-orange skin and fine-grained, sweet flesh. It stores exceptionally well, some growers keep them for 12+ months in a cool, dry space. The moschata genetics provide solid vine borer resistance. A great variety for gardeners who want both a beautiful garden display and excellent kitchen results.
Shop PA Dutch Crookneck Seeds →
10. Shishigatani Squash
Days to maturity: 100–110 | Species: C. moschata | Vine borer resistance: High
A rare Kyoto heirloom used in traditional Japanese kaiseki cuisine, the Shishigatani produces deeply furrowed, hourglass-shaped squash (5–8 lbs) with dense, dry flesh. It's one of the most flavorful varieties in our catalog, low moisture content makes it ideal for tempura, stuffing, and roasting. The moschata foundation gives it solid heat and borer resistance. If you want something genuinely unusual that will make your neighbors ask questions, this is it.
Kansas Planting Timeline (Zone 6b)
- Start indoors: 3–4 weeks before last frost, typically early to mid-April in most of Kansas
- Direct seed outdoors: After soil reaches 65°F, typically mid-May in south-central Kansas
- Last safe start date for 90-day varieties: Early June (direct seed)
- Last safe start date for 110-day varieties: Late May (direct seed); early May (transplant)
- Average first fall frost: October 10–20 in Zone 6b central Kansas
Tip: Vine borer moths in Kansas typically lay eggs in June and July. Varieties planted by mid-May that are well-established before peak borer season will handle the pressure far better than late-planted seedlings.
One More Thing About Vine Borers
Even with borer-resistant varieties, a few practices help. Row covers over young transplants until flowering (then removed for pollination) block borer moths from laying eggs. Our full vine borer prevention guide covers monitoring, timing, and what to do if you spot early damage.
The bottom line: Kansas is perfectly capable of producing world-class pumpkins and squash. You just have to work with the climate, not against it. Start with the right species, plant at the right time, and the Kansas summer works in your favor.
Shop All Vine Borer Resistant Varieties →
All varieties listed are grown and seed-saved in Newton, Kansas. Seed counts: 10–20 seeds per packet. Ships free on US orders $35+.
Kansas-tested favorites
Every variety on this list earned its place in a real Kansas Zone 6b garden.
Shop Kansas grown favorites →