Pumpkin Snowman - Cucurbita maxima

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.