Pumpkin Rouge Vif d'Etampes plants - Cucurbita maxima

The Bright Red Etampes Pumpkin is a traditional variety that produces large, bright red fruits. They are spherical, very flat, and sometimes curved, ribbed, and often lumpy. Their flesh is thick, yellow-orange, tender, and watery. It is a running, vigorous, and early-maturing squash that can be planted from April to June for harvesting in September - October. The Bright Red Etampes Pumpkin, originally from the town of Etampes in Essonne, is the most cultivated variety in France, introduced in France around the mid-19th century. It yields 1 to 4 fruits, each weighing between 5 and 15 kg, per plant.

Pumpkins, potimarrons, and giraumons belong to the Cucurbitaceae family and the species Cucurbita maxima. This annual herbaceous plant has long, vigorous, running, and sometimes climbing stems with sturdy tendrils. Each plant has separate male and female flowers, making it monoecious; it is the female flowers that will produce the fruits once fertilized by the pollen from the male flowers.

They come in many shapes and colors, from large ribbed orange or red fruits with orange flesh to oblong shapes, pear shapes, or "Turkish hat" shapes. Originally from South America, this species is said to have been introduced to Europe around the 16th or 17th century, along with its cousins, other Cucurbita species. They are often mistakenly called "pumpkins" even though they belong to a different species, Cucurbita pepo, with stringy flesh and a hard, fibrous stem. As for the pumpkin, it has sweet, tasty, and less stringy flesh with a tender and spongy stem.

Pumpkins are low in calories but rich in vitamins, minerals, and potassium. They are known for their antioxidant properties.

Harvesting and Storage:

Harvest the squashes as late as possible, without risking the first frosts. Keep the stem as thick as possible and store them in a temperate room (10 to 15°C). This way, you can store them for a few months to a year, avoiding them touching each other.

The Gardener's Tip:

To save space and protect your fruits from rot, pumpkins can be grown vertically on supports such as a trellis or sturdy stakes. If you allow your pumpkins to run, during fruit ripening, consider placing a tile, brick, or thick layer of straw between the ground and the fruit to isolate it from moisture and prevent rotting.