Pumpkins and Squash

Renee's Garden - Easy to grow and very reliable, Mini Jack Baby Pumpkins mature much earlier than their bigger cousins, rewarding you with armfuls of 3 to 4-inch, deeply ribbed fruits that are true old-fashioned miniatures. Kids (of all ages) love them and they make welcome gifts and colorful holiday decorations and centerpieces. These happy little beauties are also deliciously edible; bake them whole for individual servings of stuffing, cranberry sauce, or pumpkin soup presented right in their bright orange shells.  Characteristics:  Easy to grow  Prolific ribbed baby pumpkins    Instructions - Pumpkins need full sun, rich fertile soil, and warm temperatures. Wait to plant until temperatures stay above 50°F (10°C) day and night. Sow groups of 2 to 3 seeds 2 feet apart and 1 inch deep in rows 4 feet apart. Thin to 1 strong seedling per group to give vines room to ramble. Or, make slightly mounded hills 2 to 3 feet across and 6 feet apart and plant 4 to 5 seeds on each hill. When seedlings have several sets of leaves, thin to the strongest 3 seedlings per hill. Protect young seedlings from marauding birds by covering them with plastic berry baskets at sowing time, and removing them before plants get crowded. All pumpkins need to mature properly, so wait to pick until the rinds are fully colored and tough enough to resist piercing with a fingernail and the vines have died back. Then cut, leaving a good stem handle. Let them cure for 10 days in the sun, then store them in a cool dry place and they’ll keep for months. Plant in April-June  Full Sun  Plant 1" deep  Space in rows 2 feet apart; hills 6"  7-10 days to germinate  80-85 days to harvest  Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers due to availability. 

Renee's Garden - Developed by dedicated pumpkin breeders Colen Wyatt and Doug Heath, especially for home gardeners, Wyatt’s Wonder is the most beautiful exhibition pumpkin you can find, topping out between 70 and 150 pounds. Unlike other “giant” varieties, which usually have disappointing, washed-out coloration, bumpy rough skin, and awkward shape, Wyatt’s Wonder is the Real Thing: gorgeous, globe-shaped, deeply lobed, deep-orange giants you’ll be proud to harvest. Truly the prize-winning variety for impressive size and beauty!  Characteristics:  Prize-winning, rich orange pumpkins  Impressive size & beauty  25 Seeds   Instructions - Pumpkins need full sun, rich fertile soil, and warm temperatures. Plant only when the weather is warm and night temperatures stay above 50° (10°). Make slightly mounded hills 3 feet across and 6 feet apart. Plant 4 seeds per hill. Thin seedlings to leave only the strongest plants, 2 vines per hill. Plant where the vigorous vines can sprawl. Protect young seedlings from marauding birds by covering them with berry baskets at sowing time, and removing them before plants get crowded. To concentrate energy into giant size pumpkins, pinch off all but one fruit on each vine at basketball size, so all the energy goes into that one pumpkin. Put a large square of plywood under growing pumpkins where they rest on the soil to prevent rot. Feed regularly, about every three weeks, with a good all-purpose fertilizer and provide vines with ample water.  Plant in April-June  Full Sun  Plant 1" deep  Space seeds 6"  10-14 days to germinate  110 days to harvest  Harvest & Use - Giant pumpkins need to mature properly before harvesting. Wait until rinds are fully deep orange and tough enough to resist piercing with a fingernail. Cut from vines, leaving 3 to 4 inches of stem "handles." Let cure in the sun for 10 days, then store in a cool, dry place to keep for months. Wyatt's Wonders make fabulous supersized Jack O’ Lanterns to light up the whole neighborhood! You can also bake the rich orange flesh for pies, soups, or casseroles.  Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers due to availability. 

The Seed Savers Exchange - (C. maxima) An “Australian Blue” squash directly imported into the United States in 1932 from Arthur Yates and Company of Sydney. Dark blue-green ribbed rind with flesh that is meaty, sugary, brilliant orange, and abundant. Striking gray foliage. Late to mature, long shelf life. 110-120 days.  Characteristics:  Dark blue-green ribbed rind Bright orange, sugary and meaty flesh Foliage is gray-green Winter squash for storage 110-120 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

We are packing this one as it wasn’t available anywhere for us to sell retail packets. It will be available under our Firefly Farm & Mercantile label 15 Seeds will be included in every packet.  The seed is sourced from High Mowing Organic Seeds - Teardrop-shaped, striking red-orange squash from Japan. Also known as Baby Red Hubbard or Orange Hokkaido, this variety has smooth, sweet, dry orange flesh. Reliable yields even in cool climates with short growing seasons. Improved HMOS strain with greater uniformity than others. Characteristics:  Organic, non-GMO, and open-pollinated  Reliable in short seasons  3-4 lbs  Vining habit  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 the leaves are yellow.  Days to maturity are from direct seeding, subtract 2 weeks if transplanting. Winter squash has a long season, requiring 90-120 frost-free days to reach maturity, so it is usually transplanted in northern climates. It can also be directly seeded once the danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures reach 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 18-24”, for vining 24-36”  Row Spacing:   for bush, semi-bush and short vine types is 6’, for vigorous vining types use 9’. Plants can also be planted in hills of 3-5 plants in rows 3-5’ apart  Harvest & Storage: Harvest when fruits are full size and have a deep rich color and hard rinds that can’t be easily dented with a fingernail. Changing the color of the “ground spot” from yellow to cream, gold or orange is another general indicator of ripeness. To harvest, cut the stem at least 2” from 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

This is our favorite zucchini.  The skins are tender, they are perfect for grilling, roasting, and stuffing. We have to source them differently each year but we strive for organic.  Perfectly spherical light green fruits with white speckling - a unique specialty item! Heirloom from southern France with a nice nutty flavor and great texture for fresh eating or freezing. Round shape and small size make this variety perfect for stuffing!  Characteristics:  Organic, non-GMO, and open-pollinated  Specialty crop  Harvest at 3-5" diameter  Bush-type habit  Heirloom  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 the leaves are yellow. Days to maturity are from direct seeding, subtract 2 weeks if transplanting. Direct seed as soon as the chance of all frost has passed or start transplants 3-4 weeks before the planting date. The optimum soil temperature for germination is about 85ºF. Many growers plant multiple successions of summer squash during a season to ensure a continuous harvest, transplanting the first succession immediately after a frost-free day and the final succession three months before the expected first frost.   Plant 1/2-1" deep  Plant Spacing: 12-24" Row Spacing:  5-6'  Harvest & Storage: Best quality fruit is harvested at 5 – 8” or smaller, while skin is soft and somewhat glossy.  Harvest fruits every other day to for the best size and quality and to maintain plants’ productivity. Fruits are very perishable but will store for 3 to 4 days at 35 - 40ºF and 90% relative humidity.    Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - Beautiful French pumpkin: introduced in the United States by W. Atlee Burpee in 1883; documented by Vilmorin the same year. Very flattened red-orange fruit with wide ribs, weighs up to 20 pounds. Favored by French chefs for rich soup stock. 95 days, (C. maxima) (aka Bright Red d'Etampes, Cinderella) Characteristics:  Cinderella Pumpkin 15-20 lb fruit Bright red-orange fruit  Flattened fruits with wide ribs  Fruits grow to 20 pounds  Winter squash 95 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. 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 very sweet squash or pumpkin and is a great choice for hot and humid areas. The fruits are 6-8" and bell-shaped pumpkins and will keep for 1 year at room temperature. 95 days. Characteristics:  Organic Very sweet Stores for 1 year 90-100 days ~20 Seeds per packet, 2 grams 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

The Seed Savers Exchange - (C. maxima) (aka Pike’s Peak) Introduced by Hiram Sibley & Co. of Rochester, New York in 1888. Superb banana squash with thick sweet flesh. James J. H. Gregory found it simply “magnificent.” Winner of the SSE staff taste test in 2014. Hard-rinded, inversely pear-shaped, excellent keeper. 110 days.  Characteristics:  Banana type squash Hard, light blue rind Thick, sweet flesh Excellent keeper Winter squash 110 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

The Seed Savers Exchange - (C. maxima) A selection from Blue Banana bred and introduced by Ferry-Morse Seed Co. in 1956. Small bell-shaped squash average four pounds. Silvery gray-blue shell turns pink in storage. Delicious deep orange, dry, sweet flesh. Good keeper. 100-105 days.  Characteristics:  Bell-shaped fruits grow to 4 pounds Gray-blue shell turns pink in storage Dry, sweet orange flesh Good keeper Winter squash 100-105 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

Seed Exchange - This historic variety originated in Japan and was introduced to the United States by the mid-1930s by seedsmen such as Henry A. Dreer of Philadelphia. Plants bear cream-colored, cylindrical shaped fruits filled with spaghetti-like strands of delicately flavored flesh. 80 days New for 2021 Productive plants bear 3 - 4 lb fruits Cream-colored fruits are filled with spaghetti-like strands 80 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 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

Renee's Garden - Fast-growing vines produce early, offering great yields of small & mid-size pumpkins with rich sweet flesh. Great for carving jack-o'-lanterns and tasty holiday baking.  Characteristics:  Organic  Early-maturing pumpkins   Instructions - Pumpkins need full sun, rich fertile soil, and warm temperatures. Wait to plant until temperatures stay above 50°F (10°C) day and night. Sow groups of 2 to 3 seeds 3 feet apart and 1 inch deep in rows 4 feet apart. Thin to 1 strong seedling per group to give vines room to spread. Or, make circular soil mounds 2 to 3 feet across and 8 ft. apart and plant 4 to 5 seeds in each hill. When seedlings have several sets of leaves, thin to 3 seedlings per hill. Protect young seedlings from marauding birds by covering them with plastic berry baskets at sowing time, removing them before young plants get crowded. Pumpkins need to mature properly, so wait to pick until rinds are fully colored and tough enough to resist piercing with a fingernail and vines have died back. Then cut, leaving a good stem handle. Let pumpkins cure for 10 days in the sun, then store them in a cool dry place and they'll keep for months.   Plant in April-June  Full Sun  Plant 1" deep  Space in rows 2 feet apart; hills 6"  7-10 days to germinate  85-90 days to harvest  Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers due to availability. 

Renee's Garden - We think that our Kurin Kabocha is the most scrumptious of all long-keeping winter squash. Kurin’s intensely orange flesh has a moist, fluffy texture and truly outstanding nutty-sweet, buttery flavor. Besides being absolutely delicious, kabochas are chock full of natural vitamin A, antioxidants, and phytonutrients. These beauties are a breeze to grow; you can even easily train them up a trellis. Once harvested, the squashes will keep for months.  Characteristics:  Long keeper with a fluffy texture  A sweet, nutty flavor  Easy to grow    Instructions - Long-keeping winter squash needs full sun, rich fertile soil, and warm temperatures. Wait to plant until nights are comfortably above 50°F both day and night. Sow groups of 2 to 3 seeds 2 ft. apart and 1 in. deep in rows 4 ft. apart. Thin to 1 strong seedling per group to give vines room to ramble or climb. Or make slightly mounded hills 2 to 3 ft. across and 6 ft. apart and plant 4 to 5 seeds in each hill. When seedlings have several sets of leaves, thin to the strongest 3 seedlings per hill. Protect young seedlings from marauding birds by covering them with plastic berry baskets at sowing time, and removing them before plants get crowded. To save space, vines can be trained up fences, trellises, or tepees. Winter squashes need to mature properly, so don’t harvest until vines have died back and the squashes’ exterior rinds are fully dark green and tough enough to resist piercing with a fingernail. Then cut squashes from vines, leaving a good stem handle. Cure in the sun for about 10 days, before storing in a cool dry place where they will keep for months.  Plant in May-June for cold winters; April-June for mild winters  Full Sun  Space seeds in rows 4 feet apart; hills in 6"  7-10 days to germinate  95 days to harvest  Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers due to availability. 

The Seed Savers Exchange - The Lenape Indians introduced this variety to the English Colonists sometime in the 1700s while many seed catalogs started listing it in the 1800s. The warted appearance of its bright yellow summer skin makes for an unusual-looking fruit but its sweet and mild flavor will become a quick favorite of your family. Characteristics:  Organic Summer Yellow warted skin Delicious when eaten young Very productive Summer squash 55-60 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. Plant 1/2" deep Hill 6-8 seeds together Thin to 3-4 plants Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute based on supplier availability