What are heirloom pumpkin seeds?

Heirloom pumpkin seeds are open-pollinated varieties that have been passed down through generations. Unlike hybrids, you can save seeds from heirloom pumpkins and grow the same variety year after year. All our seeds are non-GMO and open-pollinated.

What growing zone are your seeds tested in?

All our seeds are grown and tested on our Zone 6b homestead in Newton, Kansas. Most of our varieties also perform well in Zones 5-9. Each product listing includes specific growing zone recommendations.

Do you offer free shipping?

Yes! We offer free shipping on orders of $25 or more. Orders under $25 pay USPS calculated shipping. Seeds ship via USPS First Class, and coffee ships fresh within 48 hours of roasting.

What makes your coffee different?

Our Prairie coffee is small-batch roasted right here on the Kansas prairie. We roast weekly to ensure freshness. Available in Prairie Sunrise (light roast) and Prairie Blaze (medium roast), both in ground or whole bean.

Are your pumpkin seeds vine borer resistant?

Many of our Cucurbita moschata varieties are naturally resistant to squash vine borers, including Seminole Pumpkin, Long Island Cheese, Tromboncino, and Mrs. Amersons. We highlight vine borer resistance on each product page.

March 12, 2026

Pennsylvania Dutch Crookneck: Growing the Appalachian Heirloom in Kansas

By Autumn Prairie Pumpkins

Pennsylvania Dutch Crookneck is one of the great old butternut-type varieties from the mid-Atlantic region, a big, curving crookneck squash with a neck so long it sometimes looks like a goose. The PA Dutch communities of Lancaster County and surrounding areas have grown this variety for generations, and it's earned its survival through sheer usefulness: enormous amounts of solid, seedless flesh in the neck, excellent storage life, and a rich, sweet flavor that holds up in everything from pies to soups.

This is Cucurbita moschata through and through, vine borer resistant, heat tolerant, and well-adapted to the kind of hot, variable summers that both Pennsylvania and Kansas experience. If you want a crookneck butternut with serious production capacity and old-school heritage, PA Dutch Crookneck is one of the best.

Why PA Dutch Crookneck Works in Kansas

The mid-Atlantic states have hot, humid summers with regular pest pressure, conditions that selected this variety for toughness. Kansas summers are comparable in heat, and the moschata vine borer resistance means the plants stay productive through our worst pest months.

Days to maturity run 100–115 days. Fruits can be large, 10–20 lbs, with a dramatically long, curved neck that's solid flesh from end to end. The seed cavity is small and confined to the bulb at the bottom. This means a higher flesh-to-waste ratio than most squash varieties.

K-State's squash vine borer guide (MF3309) covers general practices for butternut types in Kansas.

How to Grow PA Dutch Crookneck in Kansas (Zone 6b)

Starting Seeds

Direct sow mid-May, 1 inch deep. The longer maturity benefits from indoor starts 3–4 weeks early. Germinates in 7–10 days in warm (65°F+) soil.

Spacing

6–8 feet between plants, rows 8–10 feet apart. Full-vining habit. The long crookneck fruits need space to develop without bending against obstacles. Slip straw or boards under developing fruit to prevent ground rot.

Soil and Fertility

Rich, well-drained soil with generous compost. pH 6.0–6.8. Heavy feeder, large fruits demand consistent nutrition. Side-dress with nitrogen when vines run.

Watering

1.5 inches per week during fruit set and development. Drip irrigation recommended. Consistent moisture is key for the long fruits to develop evenly.

Harvest and Storage

Harvest when skin is tan, hard, and the stem is corky. Cut with 3–4 inches of stem. Cure 2 weeks in warm, dry conditions. PA Dutch Crookneck is an excellent storage squash, 5–7 months with proper curing. The thick neck helps protect the flesh during storage.

PA Dutch Crookneck in the Kitchen

The PA Dutch communities used this squash the same way they used everything, nothing wasted, everything good. The neck slices into perfect rounds for roasting, frying, or adding to soups and stews. The flavor is classic butternut: sweet, nutty, and rich.

The enormous amount of solid flesh makes this one of the most efficient varieties for processing. One large fruit can yield enough puree for 3–4 pies. It's also excellent cubed for roasting, mashed as a side dish, or pureed into soup.

Saving Seeds

Open-pollinated heirloom. Seeds from the small bulb end save true to type. Scoop, rinse, dry 2–3 weeks. Cross-pollinates with other moschata. This variety has survived centuries of seed saving, keep it going.

Old-World Heritage, New-World Garden

Pennsylvania Dutch Crookneck Seeds ship from Newton, Kansas. Browse our full heirloom seed collection.

More growing guides: Baker's Branch Butternut Growing Guide · Cuban Neck Pumpkin Growing Guide · Cushaw Green-Striped Growing Guide

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