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Squash North Georgia - Cucurbita maxima

Cucurbita maxima North Georgia
Winter squash, Hubbard squash, Buttercup squash, Giant pumpkin

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A trailing variety, yielding 2 to 5 fruits per plant. Each one measures 12 to 20 cm (5 to 8in) in diameter and 30 to 50 cm (12 to 20in) in length, weighing from 3 to 8 kg. The skin, pale orange in colour, has a green star-shaped pattern at the fruit's end. The flesh is thick, dark yellow in colour, of good quality, with a hazelnut taste. It is used in soups, mashed, or grilled. Its fine granulation and crunchy texture also make it appreciated raw, in salads. Sowing from April to June for a harvest in September - October. Ripening in 95 days.
Ease of cultivation
Beginner
Height at maturity
30 cm
Spread at maturity
1.50 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 to June
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Flowering time June to September
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F
M
A
M
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Harvest time September to October
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Description

The North Georgia Organic Pumpkin is a trailing variety that produces generous elongated fruits measuring 30 to 50 cm (12 to 20in) in length and 12 to 20 cm (5 to 8in) in diameter. The pale orange skin features a green star-shaped pattern at the end opposite the stem. They contain thick flesh, dark yellow in color, of good quality, with a hazelnut flavor. It is used cooked in soups, mashed, or grilled. Its fine grain and crunchy texture also make it enjoyable raw. Sow from April to June for a harvest in September - October. Ripens in 95 days.

The average yield of this Pumpkin is 2 to 5 fruits, each weighing 3 to 8 kg, per plant.

Pumpkins, Potimarrons, and Giraumons belong to the Cucurbitaceae family and the species Cucurbita maxima. This annual herbaceous plant has long, vigorous, trailing, and even climbing stems with the help of strong 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 of the male flowers.

They come in many shapes and colors, from large ribbed fruits in orange or red with orange flesh to oblong, pear-shaped, 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 species of Cucurbita. They are often wrongly called "pumpkins" when they belong to a different species, Cucurbita pepo, with fibrous and stringy flesh and a hard, fibrous stem. As for the pumpkin, it has sweet, flavorful flesh that is less stringy, with a tender and spongy stem.

Pumpkins are low in calories but rich in vitamins, trace elements, and potassium. They are renowned for their 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 store them for a few months to a year, avoiding them touching each other.

Gardener's tip:

To save space and protect your fruits from rotting, pumpkins can be grown vertically on supports such as a fence or sturdy stakes. If you let your pumpkins trail, 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.

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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
Fruit diameter 16 cm
Interest Flavour, Nutritional value, Colour
Flavour Sugary
Use Table, Jam, Cooking

Plant habit

Height at maturity 30 cm
Spread at maturity 1.50 m
Growth rate normal

Foliage

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

Botanical data

Genus

Cucurbita

Species

maxima

Cultivar

North Georgia

Family

Cucurbitaceae

Other common names

Winter squash, Hubbard squash, Buttercup squash, Giant pumpkin

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Annual / Perennial

Annual

Product reference • 169501

Planting and care

Preparation:

The Pumpkin, like all Cucurbitaceae, is a very demanding vegetable that requires well-fertilized soil. It is advisable to apply 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 with any vegetable cultivation.

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 cloche or in a warm place. Sow 2 or 3 seeds per large enough bucket or container for root development. After germination, keep only the most vigorous plant. Plant in open ground after mid-May, once the risk of frost has passed. It is important not to sow too early, as the plants may become weak and/or their root system may not withstand transplantation.

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

Cultivation:

From sowing or planting, water generously, being careful not to displace the seeds, and regularly during fruit formation. However, once the fruits have formed, during ripening, limit watering.

Seedlings

Sowing period April to June
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 to control growth and promote fruiting. This should be done 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 when they have reached 8 leaves. Then, cut 2 leaves after the formation of each fruit, without keeping all the fruits. Depending on the variety and the desired fruit size, it is advisable to keep 1 to 3 fruits for larger specimens, 5 to 6 for small pumpkins, squashes or butternuts, and 8 to 10 for mini squashes. Remove branches without fruits to limit vegetation 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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