Cucurbita maxima
Origin: Carbondale, Colorado
Improvement status: Landrace/Breeding Material
Seeds per packet: ~18
Germination tested 10/2025: 94%
Life cycle: Annual
A beautiful and diverse new landrace created by the good folks at Wild Mountain Seeds in Colorado, 'Desert Spirit' has many varieties of Cucurbita maxima squash in its heritage, including 'Buttercup,' 'Oregon Homestead Sweet Meat,' and 'Navajo.' According to Casey Piscura, these squash are as vigorous as they are delicious — and he calls the flavor "divine." Former employees have told Casey they had "squash withdrawals" after leaving the farm because of this gem.
As with other diverse populations, the breeding potential from this gene pool is immense. Let us know what these seeds are doing for you a few years down the road!
GROWING TIPS: Direct seed in May or early June, or transplant in healthy plant starts around this time. Plants should end up 2-3 feet apart in rows 5-6 feet apart.
