Calabaza Squash Seeds (Puerto Rican Pumpkin)

Sweet Orange-Fleshed Squash for Caribbean Cooking

Grow a garden staple for hearty pumpkin soup, sancocho, and roasted squash with Calabaza seeds. Also known as Puerto Rican pumpkin or Caribbean pumpkin, this Cucurbita moschata squash develops dense, sweet orange flesh inside large, round to irregular fruits. Its vigorous spreading vines make it a rewarding choice for warm-season gardens with room to grow.

Variety Highlights

• Botanical name: Cucurbita moschata
• Common names: Calabaza, Puerto Rican pumpkin, and West Indian pumpkin
• Sweet, dense orange flesh for savory dishes and baking
• Warm-season annual with vigorous, spreading vines
• Yellow flowers visited by pollinating bees

Planting Guide

• When to sow: Direct sow after frost danger has passed and the soil has warmed. For an early start, sow indoors about 4 weeks before the last frost in individual pots.
• Germination: Expect seedlings in approximately 7–14 days under suitable warm, moist conditions; timing varies with soil temperature.
• Light and soil: Choose full sun and fertile, well-drained soil. Incorporate compost before planting.
• Spacing: Allow approximately 4 feet between plants and 6–9 feet between rows so vines have room to spread.
• Transplanting: Acclimate seedlings gradually to outdoor conditions and handle roots gently.

Growing and Care

Water consistently at the soil level, especially while fruits develop, without leaving the soil waterlogged. Mulch helps conserve moisture and suppress weeds. Give vines plenty of space and avoid unnecessary disturbance during flowering. Encourage bee activity by avoiding insecticide applications to open flowers.

Harvest and Storage

Harvest mature squash when the rind is firm and resists light pressure from a fingernail, and the stem begins to dry. Use clean pruners to cut the fruit from the vine, leaving a short length of stem attached. Maturity depends on growing conditions, so judge readiness by the fruit rather than a fixed calendar date.

Store sound, uncut squash in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place. Check regularly for soft spots and use damaged fruit promptly. Refrigerate cut squash and use it soon, or freeze prepared portions for later cooking.

From Garden to Kitchen

Add Calabaza to Caribbean soups, bean stews, and curries, or roast and steam it as a side dish. Its sweet orange flesh also works well in pies, breads, and savory fillings. Try it in recipes that call for pumpkin or butternut squash.

Seed Quantity

Choose from the available 10-, 25-, or 100-seed options. This listing is for seeds, not live plants or harvested squash.