Pumpkin Gele Reuzen - Cucurbita maxima

The Gel Reuzen Pumpkin, also known as the Yellow Quintal, is a vigorous climbing variety, originally from Germany, that produces large yellow-orange fruits weighing on average 30 to 60 kg but can reach up to 150 kg. The flesh is edible but becomes fibrous and spongy.

Pumpkins, potimarrons, and giraumons belong to the Cucurbitaceae family and the species Cucurbita maxima. This annual herbaceous plant has long, vigorous, climbing or trailing stems with strong tendrils. Each plant has separate male and female flowers, making it monoecious; it is the female flowers that will develop into 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 even "Turkish hat" shapes. Native to South America, this species is said to have been introduced to Europe in the 16th or 17th century, along with its cousins, other species of Cucurbita. They are often wrongly called "pumpkins" even though they belong to a different species, Cucurbita pepo, with fibrous flesh and a hard, fibrous stem. Pumpkins, on the other hand, have sweet, flavorful flesh with a tender, spongy stem.

Pumpkins are rich in vitamins and trace elements, low in calories, high in potassium, and have antioxidant properties.

Harvest and storage

Harvest the squash as late as possible, without risking the first frost. Keep the stem as large as possible and store them in a temperate room (10 to 15°C). This way, you can keep them for a few months to a year, making sure they don't touch each other.

Gardening tips

You can bury the stems at the nodes to encourage rooting.

To save space and protect your fruits from rot, you can grow pumpkins on supports such as a trellis or sturdy stakes.

During fruit ripening, you can place a tile, a brick, or any other object between the fruit and the ground to isolate it and prevent premature rotting. A thick mulch will also do the trick.