Pumpkins and Squash

The Seed Savers Exchange - (Curcubuta maxima) Given to Seed Savers Exchange by Anna Swartz of Pennsylvania who originally received it 40 years earlier in the 1950s. Introduced commercially by SSE in 1999. Anna loved this variety because of its extremely hard shell and excellent storage ability. High quality flesh is the color of a sweet potato with similar flavor. Fruits weigh 5-8 pounds. Characteristics:  Organic Dark Blue, almost black squash Sweet potato flavor Extremely productive Winter squash 90-100 days 25 seeds per packet  Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors in 12" diameter hills after danger of frost has passed. Hills should be spaced 6' apart in all directions. Can also be started indoors 3 weeks before transplanting out.  Direct Seed: 1" Deep Seeds to Hill: 6-8 Seeds Thin: To 3-4 Plants Light: Full Sun Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute based on supplier availability

High Mowing Organic Seeds - Commercial standard for pie pumpkins with long handles and dry, bright orange skin. Stringless, sugary flesh cooks down to a smooth, superior pie filling. Slightly smaller and more uniform than New England Pie. Great for painting and carving, too! Characteristics:  Organic, non-GMO, and open-pollinated  Uniform size  Reliable harvest  3-4 lb fruit  Vining habit  Instructions - Pumpkins grow best in fertile, well-drained soil, with a pH between 5.8-6.8. Sidedressing is recommended one week after blossoming and again 3 weeks later, especially if there are signs of deficiency. Nitrogen deficiencies cause yellowing, and bronze leaves are a sign of potassium deficiency. Days to maturity are from direct seeding, subtract 2 weeks if transplanting. Seeds can be direct seeded after the danger of frost has passed and the soil temperature has reached 70°F. Start transplants indoors 3-4 weeks before the last risk of frost. The optimal soil temperature for germination is 85-95°F.  Plant 1/2-1" deep  Plant Spacing:  For bush varieties 18”, for vining 24-36”. Tighter plant spacing will result in yields of smaller, but more numerous, fruit.  Row Spacing:  Row spacing: for bush/semi-bush and short vine types 6’, for vigorous vining types use 9-12’  Harvest & Storage - Harvest by cutting the stem near the vine or at least 2-3” from the fruit. Too many days of sun on fruits after maturity will bleach handles and cause sunscald on the fruit. A short or broken stem can lead to rot. Cure after harvest by keeping in a warm, dry location for a few days then store at 50-55°F with 55-75% relative humidity and good air circulation.  Delicata and acorn squash do not need curing, but will not store as long as other varieties.    Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability

Prolific patty pan with striking pale green fruits that mature to a creamy white. High Mowing Organic Seeds - Bush's habit of plants provide good coverage for dense clusters of scalloped edge fruits. Listed on the Slow Food Ark of Taste as a distinctive food facing extinction. Excellent flavor profile when sauteed or stuffed and beautiful addition to squash mixes for market or kitchen harvests. Characteristics:  Organic, non-GMO, and open-pollinated Patty pan-type Bushy habit Harvest at 3-4" diameter 52 days  1/8 oz approx.    Instructions - Summer squashes are warm-season annuals. Plants need loose, fertile, well-drained soil with plenty of nitrogen and a pH of 5.8-6.8. Fertilize seedlings with fish emulsion if leaves are yellow. Days to maturity are from direct seeding. The optimum soil temperature for germination is about 85ºF. Best quality fruit is harvested at 5 – 8” or smaller.  Plant 1/2-1" deep Space plants 12-24"  Plant rows 5-6'  Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute based on supplier availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - (C. maxima) From our friends at Digger's Garden Club near Melbourne, Australia. A ribbed salmon-colored drum-like pumpkin with wall-to-wall starchy high-quality flesh. Excellent for baking, a great keeper. Fruits weigh 7-15 pounds. 90-100 days. Characteristics:  Organic Salmon-colored ribbed fruits Fruits weigh 7-15 pounds Extremely thick, starchy flesh Excellent for baking Winter squash for storage 90-100 days 25 Seeds per packet  Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors in 12" diameter hills after danger of frost has passed. Hills should be spaced 6' apart in all directions. Can also be started indoors 3 weeks before transplanting out.  Direct Seed: 1" Deep Seeds to Hill: 6-8 Seeds Thin: To 3-4 Plants Light: Full Sun Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute based on supplier availability

Southern Exposure Seed Exchange - Bradshaw'sBirdhouse Gourds (Lagenaria siceraria) For over 50 years, Dr. David Bradshaw has been selecting the strongest and best-shaped gourds for Purple Martin (Progne subis subis) birdhouses. This species, the largest American swallow, suffered a population crash in the 20th Century due to the spread of European Starlings, and the birds now rely on humans for nesting houses. It is thought that without our assistance, Purple Martins would be in danger of extinction. Monitor your birdhouses to prevent take-over by aggressive, non-native birds. Purple Martins eat mosquitoes and many other insect pests. The sprawling plants produce up to 12 gourds each. Check out our Purple Martin Condominiums guide by David Bradshaw. (Click for PDF.) Small 2g packet has about 22 seeds. Characteristics:  Fruits grow to 14 inches by 12 inches Vines grow 15-35 feet Make excellent birdhouses 95 days 25 Seeds Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors in 12" diameter hills after danger of frost has passed. Hills should be spaced 6' apart in all directions. Can also be started indoors 6 weeks before transplanting out in shorter season areas. Plant 1/2" deep Hill 6-8 seeds together Thin to 3-4 plants Light: Full Sun Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute based on supplier availability

A prolific and early producer of stout, personal-sized squashes with traditional butternut color. Earlier and better storing than the popular Honeynut, Brûlée was also developed by Dr. Michael Mazourek at the Vegetable Breeding Institute at Cornell University. Uniform, squat fruits have a rich and savory flavor profile, with just the right amount of sweetness. Very high yields on vigorous plants. A portion of the sales of this variety is paid to the breeder.  Early mini butternut Stores well 0.5-1 lb squashes BR Vining habit Open-Pollinated 1/8 ounce of seed (C. moschata) Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors in 12" diameter hills after danger of frost has passed. Hills should be spaced 6' apart in all directions. Can also be started indoors 3 weeks before transplanting out. Plant 1/2" deep Hill 6-8 seeds together Thin to 3-4 plants Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute based on supplier availability

High Mowing Organic Seeds - Compact, tidy plants with sweet, oblong fruits. Delicious smooth, nutty flesh with hints of butter and brown sugar. Skin starts creamy white with green stripes and flecks, curing to striped light yellow. Compact plants spread only 4-6 feet. All-America Selection (AAS) winner bred by Molly Jahn and George Moriarty at Cornell University. This variety is Plant Variety Protected.  Characteristics:  Semi-vining habit 1.5-2 lbs AAS Winner PVP Open-Pollinated Disease Resistance Details Intermediate Resistance: Powdery Mildew Instructions: Plants need loose, fertile, well-drained soil with plenty of nitrogen and a pH of 5.8-6.8. Fertilize seedlings with fish emulsion if leaves are yellow.  Days to maturity are from direct seeding. The optimum soil temperature for germination is about 85ºF.  Plant 1/2-1" deep  Plant Spacing: for bush varieties 18-24”, for vining 24-36” Row Spacing: 5-6'    Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability

The vivid red French heirloom was reminiscent of the fairytale with its beautiful, whimsical appearance. We will have High Mowing Seeds back in late March but look for our Rouge Vif D’Etampes Pumpkin or Cinderella Carriage for the same pumpkin.  High Mowing Organic Seeds - (C. moschata) Large, flattened fruits with exceptionally deep orange flesh and strong, sweet flavor delicious in soups and purees. Shell is commonly used as a soup tureen. It can also be named Rouge Vif D'Etampes Pumpkin.  Characteristics:  Organic, non-GMO, and open-pollinated  15-20 lb fruit   Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors in 12" diameter hills after danger of frost has passed. Hills should be spaced 6' apart in all directions. Can also be started indoors 3 weeks before transplanting out. Plant 1/2" deep Hill 6-8 seeds together Thin to 3-4 plants Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute based on supplier availability

Connecticut Field Pumpkin sometimes goes by Yankee Cow Pumpkin, Orange Yankee or Big Tom Pumpkin but its origins go back well before 1700.  Southern Exposure Seed Exchange - Still the most popular variety of large Halloween pumpkins. 15-20 lbs fruits are bright orange, slightly ribbed, and vary in shape and size. Good for canning, baking, and pies. 110 days. C.Pepo Characteristics:  Beautiful Orange Pumpkin Fruits grow to 15-20 pounds Sturdy stems rarely break off Baking, Eating or Canning 110 days 2.5g 20 seeds per packet on average Planting Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors in 12" diameter hills after danger of frost has passed. Hills should be spaced 6' apart in all directions. Can also be started indoors 3 weeks before transplanting out. Plant 1/2" deep Hill 6-8 seeds together Thin to 3-4 plants Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute based on supplier availability