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.

When to Plant Pumpkins in Kansas

Kansas is Zone 6b, and that one fact shapes everything. Late frosts into early May, brutal summer heat by July, and a fall that arrives fast. Plant too early and you lose seedlings to cold. Plant too late and fruits don't finish before frost. Here is the window that works.

Pumpkin and Squash Planting Dates for Kansas (Zone 6b)

Method	Start Indoors	Direct Sow / Transplant Outside
Direct sow (most reliable)	,	May 10 to May 25
Start indoors, transplant out	April 10 to April 20	May 10 to May 20
Late planting (moschata only)	,	June 1 to June 10

The last average frost date for most of Kansas falls between April 15 and May 1 depending on your location. Central Kansas (Wichita, Newton, Salina) typically sees its last frost around April 20. Wait until soil temperature is consistently above 60°F before planting, which usually lines up with mid-May.

Why Planting Date Matters More Than You Think

Pumpkins need 90 to 120 days to mature depending on variety. If you plant Seminole or Long Island Cheese in late May, you are looking at harvest in September or early October, right before Kansas first frosts arrive in mid to late October. That is the sweet spot. Plant in June and you are racing the calendar.

The one exception is Cucurbita moschata varieties planted for squash vine borer avoidance. Borers peak in Kansas from late June through July. A late planting of June 1 to June 10 means your vines are just emerging when borer pressure is highest, but since moschata varieties are naturally resistant, they handle this better than C. pepo types like zucchini or acorn squash.

Soil Temperature is the Real Signal

Calendar dates are a starting point. Soil temperature is the actual green light. Pumpkin and squash seeds germinate best at 70 to 95°F soil temperature. Below 60°F, germination stalls and seeds rot in the ground. A cheap soil thermometer pushed 2 inches deep gives you a more reliable planting signal than any calendar.

Planting by Variety

Seminole Pumpkin (90 days): Plant mid-May. Vine borer resistant, heat tolerant, exceptionally well suited to Kansas summers. One of the most forgiving varieties you can grow here.

Long Island Cheese Pumpkin (100 to 105 days): Plant May 10 to May 20 for a late September to early October harvest. Needs the full season.

Waltham Butternut (85 to 100 days): Flexible. Plant mid-May for best results. One of the earliest to mature in the moschata family.

Tahitian Melon Squash (110 days): Plant early to mid-May. Giant fruits need a long season. Worth every day.

Thai Kang Kob (100 days): Plant mid-May. Heat and humidity tolerant. Thrives in Kansas conditions.

Sunflowers (70 to 90 days depending on variety): Plant after last frost, May 1 to May 20. Germinate fast in warm soil.

What Kansas Gardeners Get Wrong

Planting too early is the most common mistake. It feels right to get things in the ground in April when the urge to plant is strongest, but a surprise frost on May 3 wipes out unprotected transplants overnight. Warm soil in mid-May is more valuable than an early start in cold soil.

Second most common: not accounting for vine length. Pumpkins and squash need room. A Seminole vine will run 15 to 20 feet. Plan the space before you plant, not after the vines have taken over your walkway.

Kansas Planting Calendar at a Glance

March to early April: Start seeds indoors if you want transplants. Use peat pots to avoid disturbing roots at transplant time.
April 20 to May 1: Watch the forecast. Last frost window. Do not plant outside yet.
May 10 to May 25: Primary planting window. Soil is warm, frost risk is past, summer heat hasn't peaked. This is when to plant.
June 1 to June 10: Late window for fast-maturing or borer-resistant varieties. Tight timeline but doable.
July onward: Vine borer pressure peaks. Moschata varieties handle this. C. pepo types (zucchini, acorn, delicata) struggle.
September to October: Harvest window for most varieties planted in May.

All of the varieties above are available as seeds from Autumn Prairie Pumpkins, grown and shipped from Newton, Kansas. Every packet is field-tested in the same Zone 6b conditions you are working with.

Shop vine borer resistant pumpkin seeds | Browse all heirloom seed varieties