Calabaza Winter Squash Seeds | Cucurbita moschata | Jamaican Pumpkin | Caribbean Heirloom | 80 Days

Calabaza Winter Squash Seeds – Jamaican Pumpkin | Caribbean Heirloom

Calabaza (Cucurbita moschata) is the beloved pumpkin of the Caribbean and Latin America — a vigorous, spreading annual tropical vine that produces large, flattened fruits with beautifully mottled green and buff-cream skin and dense, bright orange, sweet flesh. Known throughout the region by many names — Jamaican Pumpkin, Haitian Pumpkin, West Indian Pumpkin, Abóbora (Brazil), Auyama (Dominican Republic, Venezuela), Ayote (Central America), Zapallo (South America), and Cuban Squash — Calabaza is a cornerstone of Caribbean, Central American, South American, and Chinese Caribbean cooking.

Fruits typically weigh 5–12 pounds, with variable mottled coloring depending on strain and growing conditions — a sign of this variety’s open-pollinated, heirloom character. The dense, sweet orange flesh is rich in Vitamin A and C and high in dietary fiber. Matures in approximately 80 days. Heat-tolerant and highly productive — an ideal warm-climate and tropical garden crop. Organically grown; open-pollinated.

Variety Details

• Botanical Name: Cucurbita moschata
• Common Names: Calabaza, Jamaican Pumpkin, Haitian Pumpkin, West Indian Pumpkin, Cuban Squash, Abóbora, Auyama, Ayote, Zapallo, Caribbean Pumpkin
• Type: Annual tropical vine — open-pollinated heirloom; organically grown
• Fruit weight: 5–12 pounds; round and flattened
• Skin color: Mottled green, yellow, and buff-cream
• Flesh: Bright orange, sweet, dense
• Maturity: Approximately 80 days from transplant
• Nutrition: High in dietary fiber; rich in Vitamins A and C
• Pollination: Bee-pollinated; plant multiple plants for best fruit set

Planting Guide

• Starting indoors: Sow seeds 4 weeks before last frost in individual biodegradable pots — squash dislikes root disturbance.
• Direct sowing: Sow directly outdoors after all frost danger has passed and soil has warmed. Seeds germinate in approximately 7–14 days.
• Site: Full sun — Calabaza thrives in heat and warm, humid conditions.
• Soil: Rich, warm, well-draining. Amend generously with compost before planting.
• Spacing: Space plants 4 feet apart within rows; rows 6–9 feet apart to allow vines to spread freely.
• Season: Late spring and summer. A true warm-season crop — best performance in consistently hot weather.
• Watering: Water regularly during fruit development. Avoid wetting foliage to reduce disease risk.

Culinary Uses

• Caribbean soups and stews — sancocho, pumpkin soup, and bean stews
• Roasted, steamed, or braised as a side dish
• Direct substitute for pumpkin or butternut squash in any recipe
• Stir-fries, curries, and rice dishes across Caribbean and Asian cuisines
• Baking — pies, puddings, cakes, bread, and candies
• Stuffing for quesadillas, empanadas, and tacos
• Seeds are edible — roast for a nutritious, fiber-rich snack

Medicinal Uses

Calabaza has a long history of traditional use across the Caribbean and Americas. Leaf tea is used in folk medicine to support digestion and liver health. Seeds have been traditionally used as an anthelmintic (to expel intestinal parasites) and to support prostate and urinary health across multiple Indigenous and Caribbean traditions.