Comments on: Neck Pumpkin: A Home Kitchen Garden Marvel

By: TZ

TZ — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 22:13:14 +0000

I grew these over the summer from the seed giveaway. Large healthy disease and pest resistant plants. Early on we found out how wonderful these are green as a summer squash. We are still harvesting green squash even though frost is right around the corner and the patch is full of big buff colored ripe squash. The freezer is also full of blanched green squash (1/2″ disks boiled for 3 min).
The flavor and texture is similar to chayote squash, and we don’t see much difference even when the squash starts to turn from green to orange other than the seed chamber can’t be eaten any longer.

I prefer butternut for ripe flavor but will keep growing the longnecks for summer squash.

By: Barry Spangler

Barry Spangler — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 00:12:25 +0000

My sister-in-law form York, Pa. shipped a neck pumpkin to us last fall. We kept the seeds and put them in the freezer and I planted them this past spring. Tthey are growing very well in Prescott Valley, Az. They need some space. They have intertwined my tomato plants and challenging my grape vine for use of the chain link fence. Soon will be pumpkin pie for the whole neighborhood.

By: admin

admin — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:16:55 +0000

Andrea: Thanks for visiting and for providing the heads-up. My set 2 hills of neck pumpkins this year and have two volunteer plants near the compost heap. I’m training the ones in my garden onto a trellis, but it’s clear they’ll still overwhelm the space I reserved for them.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 08:23:49 +0000

I finally re-located to the East Coast after 30+ years, and had Mom send me the seeds of a neck pumpkin from an Amish Veggie stand. If you are tempted to try it, dedicate a huge area in your garden! A few plants easily covered 20 sq/ft. They took over the peanut plants and crossed the fence into the yard.

By: sandy

sandy — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 17:22:55 +0000

Thanks for the information on canning neck pumpkin . You can bet there will many jars in my pantry come fall.

By: admin

admin — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 05:30:39 +0000

Sandy: I wrote about canning winter squash here: http://www.homekitchengarden.com/home-kitchen-garden/can-squash-or-pumpkin-from-your-home-kitchen-garden. You need a pressure canner to can squash. A boiling water bath canner can leave bacteria alive that could kill you if you eat them later. I find that I tend to use canned squash in baked goods and rarely serve it as a vegetable with dinner.

By: sandy

sandy — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 22:46:07 +0000

Being from Lancaster , PA and now living in Indiana ,Pa I do miss my Neck Pumpkin , but I do my best to get back home in the fall. You said that you can your pumkin , do you use a pressure canner or water bath , I’ve not found a good recipe. Can you help?
Thanks

By: TZ

TZ — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 12:46:37 +0000

I want to try growing these especially because they are resistant to squash vine borrers, which tend to kill off other types here.

You could try cutting 1/2″ thick slices and panfrying/steaming with a little salt and butter. I have been doing that with butternuts for a quick-fix vegetable. A little plastic wrap over the cut end and they keep in the refrigerator for a long time.

By: admin

admin — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 21:50:01 +0000

Thanks for visiting! If you’re not in a hurry for those neck pumpkin seeds, please watch this site. To promote Your Home Kitchen Garden, I plan to give away seeds in late January or early February. Last year I was able to send out more than 60 packs of seeds; I hope to mail more this year.

If you want seeds sooner than that, you can find them on several web sites that sell heirloom seeds.

By: Steve Keip

Steve Keip — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 20:55:11 +0000

I would love to try growing some. Any ideas where I can get seeds? Or might you be willing to share a few?

Steve