Jamaican Tropical Pumpkin Seeds, Thick Skinned Calabaza

Jamaican Tropical Pumpkin seeds grow a Caribbean-type Cucurbita moschata with orange flesh for soups, curries and roasting. Choose a 10 or 20 seed packet for planting. This open-pollinated variety needs a long, warm growing season and room for its vines.

What you receive

Choose 10 or 20 seeds for planting, not fruit or a live plant. Packed and shipped from Newton, Kansas.

Plan before you plant

• Seed type: Open-pollinated
• Species: Cucurbita moschata
• Maturity: Approximately 120 to 140 days from sowing; allow extra time for weather delays.
• Growing space: Plan for vigorous vines and 8 to 12 feet of space.
• Fruit: Skin, shape and size can vary. Orange flesh is suited to cooked dishes.

Planting and care

Plant outdoors after frost danger has passed and the soil has warmed. Aim for soil around 70°F for sowing. If starting indoors, sow a few weeks before your planned transplant date, then harden off the young plants and transplant after frost danger has passed. Avoid disturbing the roots. Use full sun, well-drained soil and steady moisture without waterlogging.

For Kansas, plan this long-season variety for spring planting and harvest before fall frost. An autumn seed purchase is for planning the next growing season, not starting a new outdoor Kansas pumpkin crop. Use your own local frost dates when planning.

Vine borer resistance

Moschata squash can be useful where squash vine borers are a problem, but resistance does not mean immunity. Inspect vines for eggs, entry holes, sawdust-like frass and wilting. Continue watching for squash bugs and disease. Growing conditions and pest pressure affect results.

In the kitchen and after harvest

Use the mature flesh for soup, curry, roasting or puree. Store sound, mature fruit in a cool, dry, ventilated place, check it regularly and use damaged fruit first. Storage life varies with harvest maturity, curing and conditions.

Seed saving

This variety is open-pollinated. To keep saved seed true to the variety, prevent crossing with other Cucurbita moschata plants through isolation or controlled hand pollination.

Shipping and help

Free shipping on seed orders $30+. See our shipping policy for details.

Germination Promise: if your seeds fail to germinate under proper growing conditions, contact us within one year and we will replace them or refund your purchase. See the details.

Read the Jamaican Tropical growing guide, check your planting window, or browse vine borer resistant varieties.