Cucurbita moschata – Crowning F1: High-yielding and culinary butternut squash hybrid

Crowning F1 is a modern Cucurbita moschata F1 hybrid, developed for both professional growers and serious home gardeners seeking a high-yielding, uniform, and flavorful pumpkin variety. This variety combines the classic characteristics of butternut squash with the advantages of F1 breeding: reliable fruit set, strong disease resistance, and consistent yields. Crowning F1 is known for its large, high-quality fruits suitable for both culinary and commercial use.

Appearance and characteristics of the fruits

Crowning F1 produces large, uniformly shaped fruits, usually weighing between 3 and 5 kilograms, with the classic butternut squash shape: an elongated neck and a rounded belly. The skin is smooth, firm, and light beige to cream-colored, making the pumpkins attractive for both markets and kitchens.

The flesh is deep orange, creamy, aromatic, and sweet, with a subtle nutty undertone. The seed cavity is relatively small, allowing much of the fruit to remain usable for culinary purposes.

Cultivation characteristics and growth

Crowning F1 is a vigorously growing F1 hybrid with reliable and rapid fruit set. The plants have medium to long vines and healthy foliage, which protects the fruit from sunburn and desiccation. This variety performs well in warm climates and is relatively resistant to common butternut squash diseases, including powdery mildew.

Important cultivation characteristics:

• High-yielding hybrid with uniform fruits

• Reliable and fast fruit setting

• Strong leaf growth to protect the fruits

• Good resistance to common diseases

• Excellent performance in open field and commercial cultivation

For optimal results, Crowning F1 is recommended for full sun and fertile, well-drained soil. Sow indoors from April, or directly outdoors from late May when the soil temperature is consistently above 15°C. Regular watering and mulching improve yield and fruit quality.

Culinary applications

The aromatic and sweet flesh of Crowning F1 is very versatile in the kitchen. It's firm enough for roasting, yet softens and becomes buttery when boiled or pureed, making it suitable for a variety of dishes.

Recommended applications:

• Roasted pumpkin cubes or slices

• Creamy pumpkin soups

• Stews and curries

• Puree for pasta, gnocchi or baby food

• Baking recipes such as muffins, bread or pumpkin pie

• Stuffed pumpkin from the oven

Storage and preservation quality

Crowning F1 has excellent storage qualities. After a short curing period, the fruits can be stored for up to four months in a cool, dry place. During storage, the flavor deepens and the flesh becomes even sweeter and creamier, ideal for winter cooking and commercial processing.

Why choose Crowning F1?

• High-yielding F1 hybrid with uniform fruits

• Sweet, aromatic and creamy flesh

• Reliable harvest and fast ripening

• Strong resistance to common diseases

• Large, culinary-quality fruits

• Excellent storage quality and versatile applications in the kitchen