Variety field guide
What to expect from Burgess Buttercup Winter squash Seeds
Burgess Buttercup Winter squash seeds produce green winter squash, about 3-5 lb, on vining/climbing plants.
Read the complete product descriptionTraits, flavor, garden use, variety notes, and the full catalog record
Burgess Buttercup Winter squash seeds produce green winter squash, about 3-5 lb, on vining/climbing plants. It is best suited to baking, mashing, soups, puree, winter storage, and gardeners who prefer dry sweet squash flesh. dry, dense, sweet flesh with a smooth, rich texture Grow deep green buttercup squash with dense orange flesh, dry sweetness, and dependable winter-kitchen value.
About Burgess Buttercup
Burgess Buttercup is an annual winter squash with green color, 97–120 in mature height or spread, and a vining/climbing habit. Harvest form or size: about 3-5 lb. Botanically it is Cucurbita maxima Duchesne. Maturity or first bloom: 100-109 Days; germination: 7-10 Days at 75–90 °F. Best for baking, mashing, soups, puree, winter storage, and gardeners who prefer dry sweet squash flesh. Dry, dense, sweet flesh with a smooth, rich texture.
History and provenance
Burgess Buttercup became a recognized American buttercup type during the twentieth century. Its deep green fruit, blossom-end button, dense orange flesh, and keeping quality established the form gardeners now expect from buttercup squash. Botanical record: Cucurbita maxima var. maxima. The broader crop history is kept separate from the documented history of the named variety. Where an exact breeder, introduction date, family story, or cultural attribution cannot be supported by a credible record, repeated claims are not presented as certain. Burgess Buttercup squash seeds produce deep green, turban-shaped squash with a distinctive blossom-end button and orange flesh. The defining kitchen quality is dry, dense, sweet flesh with a smooth, rich texture. Burgess Buttercup squash seeds are warm-season seed. Give runners a planned direction so leaves receive air and fruit can rest on a dry surface.
Growing facts
| Scientific name | Cucurbita maxima Duchesne |
|---|---|
| Life cycle | Annual |
| Maturity / first bloom | 100-109 Days |
| Germination | 7-10 Days at 75–90 °F |
| Seed depth | 1 in |
| Plant height / spread | 97–120 in |
| Growth habit | Vining/Climbing |
| Spacing | 36 in between plants; 72 in between rows |
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Soil | Loamy; pH 6.0–6.5 |
| Water | Moderate |
| Support | No-Support |
Starting Burgess Buttercup from seed
How to grow Burgess Buttercup Winter squash
Botanical identity: Cucurbita maxima Duchesne. Life cycle: Annual.
Sow 1 in and use a seed-zone temperature near 75–90 °F. Expected emergence: 7-10 Days. No stratification; direct sow into warm soil or start briefly in biodegradable cells and transplant young
Plant during Late Spring. Space plants 36 in apart with 72 in between rows or planting bands.
Provide Full sun, moderate water, and loamy near pH 6.0–6.5. Support: No-Support.
Garden performance and care
Give Burgess Buttercup enough room for its vining/climbing growth. Direct irrigation to the soil, keep developing fruit on dry mulch or boards where rot is common, and leave seed-saving fruit on the plant beyond the eating stage. Expected emergence is 7-10 Days; the listed maturity or bloom timing is 100-109 Days.
Harvest, bloom, and uses
Burgess Buttercup is best for baking, mashing, soups, puree, winter storage, and gardeners who prefer dry sweet squash flesh. Harvest form or size: about 3-5 lb. Color at the principal harvest or mature stage: Green. Dry, dense, sweet flesh with a smooth, rich texture.
Saving seed
Seed saving for Burgess Buttercup Select several healthy, true-to-type plants so the saved lot represents the variety rather than one unusually early or large individual. Squash and gourds are insect-pollinated and cross readily with other varieties of the same species. Confirm the species identified for this crop, then isolate by distance or controlled hand pollination. Mark seed fruit and let it reach full biological maturity; summer squash must become large and hard, winter squash must develop full rind color, and luffa or hard-shell gourds must mature well beyond the edible stage. Cure sound fruit before extraction when the crop benefits from curing. Remove, wash, and dry seed to a hard, storage-ready condition. Maintain several representative plants and record species, population, isolation, fruit selection, curing, cleaning, and test date.
Common problems
Watch Burgess Buttercup for cucumber beetles, squash bugs where applicable, aphids, powdery or downy mildew, bacterial wilt, crown rot, poor pollination, and fruit damage on wet soil. Rotate cucurbit crops, provide airflow, water at the root zone, protect young plants before flowering, and remove covers when blossoms need pollinators. Do not work wet vines.
Frequently asked questions
When is Burgess Buttercup ready?
100-109 Days from warm direct sowing or equivalent established transplant
How long does germination take?
Expect 7-10 Days near 75–90 °F; actual emergence changes with moisture, seed condition, and soil temperature.
How large does it grow?
About 97–120 in with a vining/climbing habit. Support: No-Support.
Can it grow in a container?
Best in open ground or a large raised bed; mature vines require substantial horizontal or vertical space.
How is it used?
Primary uses: baking, mashing, soups, puree, winter storage, and gardeners who prefer dry sweet squash flesh. Dry, dense, sweet flesh with a smooth, rich texture.
Can I save seed?
Yes where the crop biology allows, but keep compatible varieties isolated, use several healthy plants, wait for full seed maturity, dry thoroughly, and label the lot.
Minimum Seed Count:25 seeds
