I'm a fan of the Neck Pumpkin, Cucurbita moschata, that Harris Seeds used to carry - and this year I'm down to my last 2 seeds.
Gave a go with Baker Creek's Tahitian Melon (and wonder if they made that name up, grr .. seeds are supposed to be marketed with the correct variety name) but unlike their web pictures, you can see on the left of this shot that a lot of them are stumpier and fatter. I wonder if that batch had crossed with something as squash is wont to do. It's ok, and if I couldn't find the Neck Pumpkin I like I'd grow it again. Just found that the variety Neck lasted quite a bit longer than the Tahitian. They were both started the same day and planted in beds prepped and watered the same.
You can see, they're prolific, the photo wasn't re-arranged - that's how they grew. When I've done Musquee pumpkin, and although tasty - I get two - the other large pumpkin varieties sometimes just one. Not sure why but these Neck style are easier for me to grow and get a bumper crop. For the planting space in the raised beds, I get the most squash per area with these as the vines can trail outside of the beds. I do also grow a few smaller hybrid varieties as I LOVE winter squash.
Been shopping around - Baker carries a Canadian neck that is only 4 or 5 pounds. These are generally marketed as 10 to 25 pounds with some going higher. Great cooked with just butter and brown sugar, all soups and for pie I use that trick of spreading the squash on a cookie sheet and baking in a low oven (300-325°) first to get it denser and more flavorful. A few seed companies are sold out, one noting failed crop so no seed until 2025. So perhaps Harris will add it back to their inventory. Probably picking up a packet from Seed Savers where they use the Pennsylvania Dutch Crookneck Squash name. Reimer's calls it Turkey Neck. A few newer seed companies I've never heard of also appear to offer it.
Have you grown any of the larger and prolific winter squash? Have a favorite that you enjoy cooking and eating? I have a friend who just grows the prettier varieties (or buys them at Farmer's Markets) just for centerpiece displays - I'm not interested in that. Mine are grown for food value.
