Calabaza Squash Seeds, Free Shipping, Heat Tolerant Winter Squash, Sweet, Delicious, Easy to Grow Garden Vegetable for Southern Climates

Description

According to the University of Florida IFAS Extension website, Calabaza Squash is a heat-loving variety that is perfect for hot climates. It is just one of the varieties of pumpkins and squashes grown in the tropics.

Calabaza squash is also called auyama, ayote, and zapallo. This heirloom vegetable is also a traditional variety in France, called Musquee de Provence, or Fairytale Squash.

Whatever you call them, they’re delicious.

When you live in the South or Southwest, gardening is a year-round thing! Especially when it comes to these delicious Calabaza (or Cuban) winter squash.

This winter squash has light brown skin, deep ridges, and a vivid orange interior. It’s a large pumpkin, weighing about 15 to 20 pounds. It’s a sweet winter squash with a nutty flavor, perfect for pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, or Calabaza en Tacha.

Vines are long and sprawling, and plants need 100-110 to mature and produce fruit. These calabaza squash are ready to harvest when the rind has turned evenly brown.

These are non-GMO, open-pollinated, heirloom seeds so you can collect seeds from your harvest for next year that will grow true.

When to Plant Calabaza Squash

In Zones 8, 9, & 10, plant in August through September or February through March
In Zones 11-12, plant between August and March

Calabaza Squash Details

Growth Habit: Sprawling vines
Spacing: Plant in mounds 4 to 8 feet apart
Days to Germination: 7-10 days
Days to Maturity: 100-110 days

Calabaza Squash Growing Instructions

Can be started in cells or soil blocks or sown directly in the garden

To Start Indoors

• To start indoors or under cover, sow seeds in large cells, large soil blocks, or small pots about 4-6 weeks before planting out.
• Use a light seed sowing mix and plant seeds about 1 inch deep.
• Keep soil moist with misting or bottom watering until germination.
• Keep warm at about 75°F to 85°F.
• Germinates in approximately 7 to 10 days.
• Plant into the garden once the plant has developed several sets of true leaves.
• Provide with plenty of compost and a slow-release organic vegetable fertilizer to help plant establish.
• Keep soil moist during the first week after planting out and then provide at least 1 inch of water twice a week or as required by your local conditions to keep soil regularly moist.
• Mulching the root zone will help to retain moisture.
• Feed plants with a balanced vegetable fertilizer during active growth and when flowering.

To Sow Directly

• Prepare the soil by forming low mounds in the garden about 4 to 8 feet apart. Form the raised mounds using plenty of organic matter into the mound, such as compost or composted manure.
• Sow two seeds per mound, about 1 inch deep.
• Water mounds well and mist daily until germination occurs.
• Water regularly to help plants establish.
• Thin to one plant per mound

Terms of Sale

Sold by weight — you will receive a minimum of 2 grams of seed, approximately 15-16 seeds, shipped free from Florida via USPS First Class Mail with Etsy tracking, as well as instructions for planting and care.