The Flat White Boer Pumpkin is a striking heirloom winter squash that turns heads in both the garden and kitchen. Its pure white, dramatically flattened fruits grow to around 30 pounds and conceal a sweet orange flesh ideal for pies and baking. Named for the Dutch Boers of colonial South Africa, this rare variety combines decorative appeal with genuine culinary merit, maturing in 95 to 105 days and thriving in zones 3 through 11.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-11
?in H x ?in W
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Moderate
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Pure white, strikingly flat fruits stand out among traditional orange pumpkins, offering dual appeal as both a garden ornament and a kitchen ingredient. The sweet orange flesh makes it genuinely tasty for baking and pie rather than just a pretty face, a combination that earned this South African heirloom its reputation as both decorative and edible.
This squash excels in baking applications, particularly pies, where its very sweet orange flesh shines. Its striking pure white exterior also makes it a natural choice for autumn decorating and table display, so home growers can harvest fruits for visual impact and then cook them through the season.
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Start seeds indoors 3 to 4 weeks before your last spring frost date. Soak seeds or nick the seed coat lightly to encourage faster germination. Keep soil warm at 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit until sprouts emerge in 5 to 10 days, then move seedlings to bright light to prevent them from becoming leggy.
Harden off seedlings gradually over 7 to 10 days by exposing them to outdoor conditions before planting. Transplant after your last frost date when soil has warmed to at least 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant at the same depth they grew indoors, spacing plants 18 inches apart in full sun.
Direct sow seeds outdoors after all frost danger has passed and soil temperatures have reached 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant seeds 1/2 to 1 inch deep in warm, well-prepared soil.
Harvest fruits when they reach full maturity at 95 to 105 days after planting. The skin should be completely hard and pure white, resistant to fingernail puncture. Cut fruits from the vine using a sharp knife or pruners, leaving a 1 to 2 inch stem attached to prevent rot during storage. Harvest before the first hard frost, as frost will damage the skin and shorten storage life.
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“This variety carries the name of the Dutch Boers, who served as colonial rulers in South Africa and shaped the agricultural traditions of the region. The Flat White Boer pumpkin grew popular among South African growers and remained connected to that heritage, though it nearly disappeared from cultivation. It survived as a rare treasure, preserved by seed savers and heirloom specialists, and has been brought back into broader circulation through dedicated catalog companies committed to rescuing forgotten varieties.”