Duck-shaped pumpkin – an indoor decoration for the entire winter. Yellow Crookneck (meaning “yellow crooked neck”) is a purely ornamental pumpkin, known for its golden-yellow, bottle-shaped fruits with a characteristic crooked neck – resembling a little duck. Ideal for planting around arbors and fences, as ground cover, and as an eye-catching element of autumn decoration.
In brief
- Type: ornamental pumpkin, annual
- Vine: trailing or climbing
- Fruits: bottle-shaped, with a crooked neck
- Color: golden yellow
- Decorative value: until spring
- Direct sowing: May
- Spacing: 50–80 cm
- Number of seeds per package: 1 g
What makes this variety special
Yellow Crookneck is not for eating – it is a pumpkin created to delight the eye. The vines can climb supports (perfect for arbors and fences) or trail along the ground (as ground cover). The characteristic bottle shape with a crooked “neck” looks like a sitting duck – hence its popularity in autumn arrangements. After harvesting, the fruits last on the shelf until spring.
Growing step by step
Sowing (May, directly into the ground): sow the seeds directly into the ground, 2–3 per spot, with a spacing of 50–80 cm. Choose a sunny position and fertile, not overly dry soil.
Care: water regularly, especially while the fruits are forming. Supports (netting, trellis) can be added – the vines readily climb.
Growth: trailing or climbing – depending on the supports available. Very fast-growing, it covers a large area by the end of summer.
Harvest (September – October, before frost): pick the fruits before the first frost, when the skin is fully yellow and hard. After harvesting, dry them in the sun for 1–2 weeks (this hardens the skin), then place them on a shelf – they last until spring.
Uses
Purely decorative: autumn compositions on the veranda, pumpkins in baskets, and table decorations for Halloween and Thanksgiving. It combines beautifully with Baby Boo pumpkin (white and flattened), Turk’s Turban, and ornamental corn. Once dried, it can also be used for crafts – painting, decorating, and carving with a knife.
Gardener’s tip
After harvesting, do not wash the dirt off the fruits – gently wipe them with a dry cloth. Water leaves stains and accelerates rotting. The ideal storage place is a container with holes in a basement or pantry (approx. 10°C, dry air). Under these conditions, the fruits last 6–8 months while retaining their color.
Specifications
| Latin name | Cucurbita pepo |
| Variety | Yellow Crookneck |
| Type | ornamental pumpkin, annual |
| Shape | bottle-shaped with a crooked neck |
| Color | golden yellow |
| Vine | trailing or climbing |
| Position | sunny, fertile soil |
| Seasonality | annual plant |
| Sowing time | May (directly into the ground) |
| Harvest time | September – October |
| Spacing | 50–80 cm |
| Net weight | 1 g |
| Producer | W. Legutko |
| EAN code | 5903837102273 |