VegetableSquash
Burgess Buttercup Squash
Burgess Buttercup brings winter squash excellence to gardens across zones 3-13, delivering its distinctive turban-shaped fruits in 100-109 days. This Utah State University recommended variety produces compact, dark green squash weighing 3-5 pounds each, packed with exceptionally sweet, dense orange flesh that rivals sweet potatoes in flavor. The vigorous vines reach 24-30 inches high and produce 6-7 fruits per plant, making this buttercup type a standout performer for northern gardens where reliable winter squash can be challenging to grow.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-13
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam, Rich
Growth Stats
30 in
Height
TypeVining
Spacing
48
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
3-13
Size
30in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
What sets Burgess Buttercup apart is its remarkable combination of early maturity, exceptional sweetness, and outstanding storage capability. The small seed cavity means maximum usable flesh, while the dry, dense orange interior offers that coveted sweet potato flavor that many consider the finest among winter squash varieties. Each compact plant reliably produces multiple 3-5 pound fruits with beautiful turban caps, and the variety's proven performance in northern climates makes it a trusted choice where growing seasons are short but flavor expectations remain high.
Common Uses
Burgess Buttercup excels in roasted preparations where its natural sweetness can caramelize and concentrate, creating perfect cubes for curries or the base for silky gnocchi. The dense, dry flesh makes exceptional purees and can seamlessly substitute for sweet potatoes in mashed dishes. Its stringless texture eliminates prep work hassles, while the concentrated sweetness pairs beautifully with both savory spice blends and simple roasting with olive oil and herbs for winter comfort food.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 3-4 weeks before the last frost date in biodegradable pots to minimize root disturbance during transplanting. Sow seeds 1 inch deep in warm soil.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant after all danger of frost has passed, spacing plants 36-48 inches apart with 60-72 inches between rows to allow vigorous vines room to spread and ensure good airflow.
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds 1 inch deep in warm soil after the last frost date has passed and soil has warmed sufficiently.
Harvesting
Harvest when rinds are hard and dark green with the distinctive turban cap well-formed and stems appearing dry and corky, but always before hard frost arrives. Cut fruits leaving 2-3 inches of stem attached to prevent rot during storage. Look for the characteristic weight of 3-5 pounds per fruit and ensure the rind cannot be easily dented with a fingernail.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Cucurbita maxima
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Cucurbita
Growth Habit
Vining
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)
History & Origin
“Burgess Buttercup represents an improved strain of the classic buttercup winter squash type, carefully selected for uniform teardrop-shaped fruits, deep orange flesh, and superior eating quality. This open-pollinated variety has earned recognition from Utah State University as a recommended cultivar, reflecting decades of evaluation for performance across diverse growing conditions. The variety exemplifies the ongoing work to refine traditional squash types, maintaining the beloved characteristics of classic buttercup squash while improving uniformity and regional adaptability.”