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Pumpkin Snowman - Cucurbita maxima

Cucurbita maxima Snowman
Winter squash, Hubbard squash, Buttercup squash, Banana squash, Giant pumpkin

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This plant carries a 6 months recovery warranty

More information

Annual vegetable plant with a span of 2 m (7ft), running variety, 2 to 5 fruits per plant, very good conservation. Cultivated for its 2 to 5 kg fruits with white skin and highly fragrant yellow-orange flesh, which are consumed cooked in gratin, soup, pie or puree. Sowing from April to June for a harvest in September-October.
Ease of cultivation
Beginner
Height at maturity
30 cm
Spread at maturity
2 m
Soil moisture
Moist soil
Germination time (days)
5 days
Sowing method
Direct sowing, Sowing under cover, Sowing under cover with heat
Sowing period April
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F
M
A
M
J
J
A
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N
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Flowering time June to September
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
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Harvest time September to October
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Description

The Snowman Pumpkin is an annual vegetable plant that trails up to 2m (7ft) in width, producing 2 to 5 fruits per plant that have excellent keeping qualities. Cultivated for its 2 to 5kg fruits with white skin and fragrant yellow-orange flesh, which are cooked in gratins, soups, pies or purees. Sow from April to June for a harvest in September-October.

 

Pumpkins, potimarrons and giraumons belong to the Cucurbitaceae family and the species Cucurbita maxima. This herbaceous annual plant has long, vigorous, trailing or climbing stems with strong tendrils. Each plant has separate male and female flowers, making it monoecious; it is the female flowers that produce the fruits once they are pollinated by the pollen from the male flowers.

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

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

 

Harvesting and storage:

Harvest the squash 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 (50 to 59°F)). This way, you can keep 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 rotting, pumpkins can be grown vertically using supports such as wire mesh or sturdy stakes. If you let your pumpkins trail, when the fruits are ripening, remember to place a tile, brick or a thick layer of straw between the ground and the fruit to isolate it from moisture and prevent rotting.

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Pumpkin: planting, sowing, growing
Family sheet
by Virginie T. 11 min.
Pumpkin: planting, sowing, growing
Read article

Harvest

Harvest time September to October
Type of vegetable Fruit vegetable
Vegetable colour orange
Size of vegetable Medium
Interest Flavour, Nutritional value, Colour
Flavour Sweet
Use Jam, Cooking

Plant habit

Height at maturity 30 cm
Spread at maturity 2 m
Growth rate normal

Foliage

Foliage persistence Annual
Foliage colour green
Aromatic? Fragrant foliage when creased

Botanical data

Genus

Cucurbita

Species

maxima

Cultivar

Snowman

Family

Cucurbitaceae

Other common names

Winter squash, Hubbard squash, Buttercup squash, Banana squash, Giant pumpkin

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Annual / Perennial

Annual

Product reference • 24891

Planting and care

Preparation:

The Pumpkin, like all Cucurbits, is a very demanding vegetable that requires well-fertilized soil. It is advisable to add compost, even if it is not fully decomposed (more than 3 kg per m2), by scratching the soil to a depth of 5 cm (2in), preferably in autumn, after loosening the soil as you would for any vegetable crop.

Sowing:

Pumpkins are sown from April to June at a temperature ranging from 16 to 35 °C. Germination generally takes between 9 and 10 days.

Before sowing, you can soak the seeds in water for 24 hours to stimulate germination.

Sowing can be done:

- 3 weeks before transplanting, under a cold frame or in a warm place. Sow 2 or 3 seeds per large enough pot or container for root development. After germination, keep only the most vigorous seedling. Plant in the open ground after mid-May, once the risk of frost has passed. It is important not to sow too early, as the seedlings could become weak and/or their root system, which develops too much, would not withstand transplantation.

- from mid-May, directly in the final position, by making a small hole and sowing 3 seeds, as soon as there is no longer a risk of frost and the soil is well warmed up. Thin out after 2 to 3 weeks, keeping only the most vigorous seedling. Cover the soil with organic matter (compost, grass clippings, leaves, etc.), which will help maintain soil moisture.

Cultivation:

From sowing or planting, water generously, taking care not to move the seeds, and regularly during fruit formation. However, once the fruits are formed, during ripening, limit watering.

Seedlings

Sowing period April
Sowing method Direct sowing, Sowing under cover, Sowing under cover with heat
Germination time (days) 5 days

Care

Soil moisture Wet
Disease resistance Good
Pruning instructions For varieties with large fruits, it is necessary to prune in order to control growth and promote fruiting. Carry out pruning from June to September. On the main stem, after the formation of 4 to 5 true leaves, cut after the second leaf. Then, on the lateral branches that develop without fruits, prune after the fifth leaf once they have 8 leaves. Then, cut 2 leaves after the formation of each fruit, without keeping all the fruits. Depending on the variety and desired fruit size, it is advisable to keep 1 to 3 fruits for larger specimens, 5 to 6 for small pumpkins, squash or potimarrons, and 8 to 10 for mini squash. Remove branches without fruits to limit vegetative growth.
Pruning No pruning necessary

Intended location

Type of use Vegetable garden
Hardiness Hardy down to +1.5°C (USDA zone 10b) Show map
Ease of cultivation Beginner
Soil very rich
Exposure Sun
Soil pH Any
Soil type Silty-loamy (rich and light), Moist soil

Planting & care advice

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