Acoma Pumpkin is a storied variety from Acoma Pueblo in northern New Mexico, grown for generations as a winter squash rather than a carved jack-o'-lantern. The round, thick-fleshed fruits display striking color variation, some glow warm orange or buff, while others wear dramatic dark and light green stripes. This cucurbit thrives in hardiness zones 3 through 11 and has been preserved through Native Seeds/SEARCH's seed bank collection, now available exclusively to members of Southwestern Indigenous tribes.
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Moderate
3-11
?in H x ?in W
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Moderate
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The real draw here is both the fruit's visual personality and its deep cultural roots. Acoma Pumpkins produce thick flesh ideal for winter storage and cooking, not just decoration. The color variation within a single planting makes every harvest feel like opening a present; you genuinely don't know whether you'll pull an orange globe, a buff-colored beauty, or a striped specimen from the vine. Growing this variety means stewarding a piece of Pueblo agricultural heritage.
Acoma Pumpkins are grown specifically as a winter squash for culinary use, not for decoration or carving. The thick flesh makes them well suited to roasting, pureeing, and storage for use through the cold months. They can be prepared in traditional Pueblo dishes or adapted to modern cooking methods that showcase the dense, nutrient-rich flesh.
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Transplant after the last frost date when soil has warmed and frost danger has completely passed. The variety is frost-tender and will fail if exposed to cold.
Direct sow seeds into warm soil after all frost danger has passed and soil temperature consistently reaches 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Harvest Acoma Pumpkins when fruits have reached full size and skin has hardened completely; the skin should resist puncture from a fingernail. Fruits mature within the growing season typical for winter squash. Cut fruits from the vine with a sharp knife, leaving a short stem attached, and cure them in a warm, well-ventilated space before storing. Harvest before the first hard frost.
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“The Acoma Pumpkin originates from Acoma Pueblo, a centuries-old Indigenous settlement in northern New Mexico where it has been cultivated as a reliable winter squash. The variety was preserved and documented through Native Seeds/SEARCH, an organization dedicated to conserving crop diversity and agricultural knowledge of the Southwest. It now lives in their seed bank collection, representing both the botanical and cultural heritage of the Acoma people. Today, the seed is maintained as part of a living legacy, available specifically to members of Southwestern Indigenous tribes who wish to continue growing and saving these seeds.”