Organic Squash Anna Swartz Hubbard - Ferme de Sainte Marthe seeds - Cucurbita maxima

Cucurbita maxima 'Anna Swartz Hubbard' is an old climbing variety of pumpkin that produces pear-shaped fruits with a slightly warty blue-grey skin that is extremely hard, giving them exceptional storage ability (5 to 6 months). Their thick, dry, and sweet flesh resembles the colour and flavour of sweet potatoes. It is a high-quality squash that can be consumed in gratin, soup, pie, puree, or risotto. Sow the seeds from March to June for a harvest in September-October. It takes approximately 95 days from seed to fruit.

The average yield of this squash is 5 to 6 fruits per plant, measuring 20 to 25cm (8 to 10in) in length and weighing 2.5 to 3.5kg. The plant is climbing and vine-like, clinging to anything around it, occupying 4 to 5m².

'Anna Swartz Hubbard' is a variety from the American vegetable heritage that was selected by Anna Swartz in Pennsylvania in the 1950s.

Pumpkins, winter squashes, and gourds belong to the Cucurbitaceae family and the species Cucurbita maxima. This annual herbaceous plant has long, vigorous, and climbing or creeping stems with strong tendrils. Each plant has separate male and female flowers, making it monoecious. The female flowers produce the fruits once fertilised by the pollen of the male flowers.

They come in many shapes and colours, 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 was introduced to Europe around the 16th or 17th century, along with its cousins, other species of Cucurbita. They are often mistakenly called "pumpkins" when they actually belong to a different species, Cucurbita pepo, with stringy flesh and a hard, fibrous stem. The pumpkin, on the other hand, has sweet, flavourful, 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.

Harvest and storage

Harvest the pumpkins as late as possible, but before the first frost arrives. Keep a piece of stem attached to the fruit. Store them in a temperate room (10 to 15°C (50 to 59°F)), ensuring they do not touch each other. They can be stored for a few months to a year.

Gardener's tip

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