Tropical Pumpkin: La Primera
(Cucurbita moschata)

The Tropical Pumpkin originated in tropical South or Central America, possibly Peru or Mexico, and is now widely distributed throughout the tropics. Tropical pumpkins are very well adapted to hot, humid conditions and the ripe fruits can be stored for months or even a year under dry well ventilated storage conditions. The fruits are eaten in a variety of ways—raw, boiled, fried, baked, mashed, steamed, stuff, dried, or used in soups and pies. Young fruits can be pickled, and the seeds are eaten raw or roasted. The flowers, leaves, and young stems are eaten as a green vegetable or added to soup.

Produces large fruit with pale orange flesh. Fruits weigh an average of 7kg (16lb). Variety acquired from Hope Seeds.