Pumpkin Kent Seeds
$3.90
Unit price perCucurbita moschata
Kent, traditionally known in Australia as Jap Pumpkin, is one of the country’s most familiar and dependable eating pumpkins. It produces rounded to slightly flattened fruits with grey-green skin, often mottled or striped with lighter markings, and firm, bright yellow to orange flesh.
The dense flesh has an excellent sweet, rich flavour and holds its texture particularly well when cooked. Kent is superb roasted, mashed or baked and is equally at home in soups, curries, stews, salads and classic pumpkin scones. Its versatility and reliable eating quality have helped make it a staple of Australian kitchens.
Despite the traditional Australian name “Jap”, Kent pumpkins are not simply a modern Japanese kabocha variety. Pumpkins of this general type have a complicated history, with related Cucurbita moschata forms recorded in the United States during the 19th century before becoming firmly established in Australian cultivation. Today, Kent is increasingly used as the preferred common name.
As a Cucurbita moschata, Kent is particularly well adapted to warm conditions and performs reliably in many of Australia’s hotter growing regions. Plants are vigorous trailing vines and require plenty of room to spread.
Mature fruits have good keeping qualities. Allow pumpkins to ripen fully on the vine and cure them after harvest for the best flavour and storage potential.
Pumpkins originated in the Americas and have been cultivated for thousands of years before spreading throughout the world. Cucurbita moschata includes many pumpkins particularly well adapted to warm and humid climates and is valued for its flavour, productivity and storage qualities.
Approximately 8 seeds per packet
When to Plant (Australia)
Tropics: March–August
Subtropics: August–February
Mild climates: September–January
Cold climates: October–December, after frost risk has passed
Planting / Sowing
Sow approximately 20–30 mm deep directly into warm, prepared soil, or raise seedlings in trays or pots for transplanting. In frost-prone climates, wait until all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed before planting outside.
Grow in full sun in rich, fertile, well-drained soil. Allow approximately 1–2 m between plants and plenty of additional room for the vigorous vines to spread.
Keep plants consistently watered during active growth, flowering and fruit development. Water deeply at soil level where possible rather than regularly wetting the foliage.
Harvest when the fruit has developed its mature grey-green colouring, the rind has hardened and the stem begins to dry. Cut from the vine with a generous section of stem attached.
Cure mature pumpkins in a warm, dry, well-ventilated position before moving them to a cool, dry storage area.
Maturity: approximately 110 days.
Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.
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