This beautiful tan squatted variety of pumpkin is known as Long Island Cheese. Its creamy matte color and circular shape gives it a striking resemblance to a cheese wheel. When cooked this pumpkin has a mild but delicious earthy flavor with a hint of sweetness.
How to Grow Long Island Cheese Pumpkin
- Latin Name: Cucurbita moschata
- Annual
- Days to Maturity: 70-110
- Hardiness Zone: 3-12
- Soil: Fertile; warm
- Temperature: Warmer
- Light Preference: Full sun or partial shade
- Planting:
- Depth: 1"
- Plant Space: 6'
- Row Spacing: 10-12'
- Pests/disease: Mildew; Squash beetles
- Seed Count:
- 1 oz- Approximately 185 seeds
- 4 oz- Approximately 740 seeds
- 1 lb- Approximately 2,960 seeds
This uniquely shaped squash shares a striking resemblance to that of a cheese wheel helping to give it its also very unique name. This variety needs to be well ventilated throughout its growth, otherwise rot will set in. This variety is relatively heat tolerant so planting times are a little more lax than some other varieties. However, it's still advised that planting be done around spring to early summer to give these pumpkins plenty of time to grow before winter hits.