Butternut Pumpkin is a compact but productive variety with a semi-bush habit. Its neatly club-shaped fruits have a creamy tan exterior and bright orange flesh, so they look as good as they taste.

Known for its rich, nutty sweetness, the butternut pumpkin is a top choice for roasting with garlic or steaming. It shines as an alternative to traditional pumpkins in hearty soups and savoury pies, but it’s versatile; its smooth texture makes for an indulgent puree, too. And with minimal seeds, every fruit is packed with usable flesh, so there's little waste.

Plant your pumpkins in full sun with good drainage, and in no time at all you’ll be able to enjoy this versatile vegetable.

How to Sow Seeds

Method: Sow your butternut pumpkin seeds in clumps of 3-5 seeds, spacing each clump 60cm (2ft) apart.
Thinning: Thin to the strongest seedling in each group when they emerge.
Growing notes: Place the seeds on their edges to ensure they don't rot and keep moist. Soil must be warmed. Provide liquid feeds and, if needed, hand pollinate the female flowers. Harvest when the stalks become dry. For earlier crops, sow indoors in pots of compost. Keep moist. Harden the young plants off before transplanting outdoors. Fruits store for 3-4 months if kept dry and uninjured. See the complete guide on How to Grow Pumpkins for more top tips.

Growing Needs

Position: Full sun
Soil: Fertile soil
Water: Place the seeds on their edges to ensure they don't rot and keep moist

Plant Characteristics

Growth habit: Compact
Yield: Productive
Harvest: Harvest when the stalks become dry
Storage: Fruits store for 3-4 months if kept dry and uninjured
Uses: Known for its rich, nutty sweetness, the butternut pumpkin is a top choice for roasting with garlic or steaming