{"product_id":"calabaza-de-castilla-squash-seeds","title":"Calabaza de Castilla Squash Seeds, Mexican Heirloom for Calabaza en Tacha","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCalabaza de Castilla\u003c\/strong\u003e is the big ribbed squash stacked in Mexican markets every autumn, the one simmered with piloncillo and cinnamon into calabaza en tacha for Día de Muertos. It is a true \u003cem\u003eCucurbita moschata\u003c\/em\u003e, the species Mexican growers domesticated roughly 7,000 years ago. The name is a colonial leftover: Spaniards carried the squash home from the Americas, and Europe assumed anything that good must have come from Castile.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy this squash\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVine borer resistant:\u003c\/strong\u003e a true \u003cem\u003eCucurbita moschata\u003c\/em\u003e, with the dense, solid stems squash vine borers rarely get through\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBig fruit:\u003c\/strong\u003e light brown rind with deep ridges at maturity, averaging 15 to 20 pounds of rich orange flesh\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeat is the point:\u003c\/strong\u003e tropical moschata genetics, selected by generations of Mexican growers for long, hot, humid seasons\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMild, sweet and nutty:\u003c\/strong\u003e the traditional squash for candied calabaza, empanadas and pie, and the seeds roast into pepitas\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOpen-pollinated heirloom:\u003c\/strong\u003e save seed from your best fruit and it grows true next year\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGive it room.\u003c\/strong\u003e This is one of the most vigorous vines in our catalog, with runners reported as long as 50 feet. Plant one inch deep in hills 4 to 8 feet apart, in soil that has warmed to at least 70°F. About 100 to 110 days to maturity, which a Kansas season handles comfortably from a late May sowing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCure the fruit in the sun for a few days after harvest. Held at 50 to 60°F, moschata squash keep 4 to 6 months.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eNew to this variety? Read our \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/growing-guides\/calabaza-de-castilla-the-complete-growing-guide-for-zone-6b-kansas-gardens\"\u003ecomplete Calabaza de Castilla growing guide\u003c\/a\u003e for Zone 6b planting dates, spacing, curing and storage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e✅ \u003cstrong\u003eGermination Promise:\u003c\/strong\u003e if your seeds fail to germinate under proper growing conditions, contact us within one year and we will replace them or refund you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eGrows well with\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOther big, heat-loving moschatas from the Americas: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/guatemalan-green-ayote-seeds\"\u003eGuatemalan Green Ayote\u003c\/a\u003e for a tropical highland squash, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/cuban-neck-pumpkin-seeds\"\u003eCuban Neck\u003c\/a\u003e for a Caribbean crookneck, or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/magic-cushaw-squash-seeds-large-crookneck-moschata\"\u003eMagic Cushaw\u003c\/a\u003e for another giant that shrugs off borers. Browse the full \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/vine-borer-resistant\"\u003eVine Borer Resistant collection\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Autumn Prairie Pumpkins","offers":[{"title":"10 Seeds","offer_id":48476232351933,"sku":"APP-SEED-MOS-CDC-10","price":4.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20 Seeds","offer_id":48476232384701,"sku":"APP-SEED-MOS-CDC-20","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/0335\/5581\/files\/calabaza-de-castilla-01-fruit-on-vine.jpg?v=1789957837","url":"https:\/\/autumnprairiepumpkins.com\/products\/calabaza-de-castilla-squash-seeds","provider":"Autumn Prairie Pumpkins","version":"1.0","type":"link"}