Basil and Tulsis
Maxima squash
Cinderella - Maxima squash
Ref : P2224
- Cucurbita maxima
Bag of 12 seeds
This old-fashioned squash variety has 1 to 4 bright red, slightly flattened, strongly ribbed fruits, weighing from 4 to 20 kg. Their orange flesh is tender and rich in water. They keep for 2 to 4 months.
What are the characteristics of the Rouge Vif d'Étampes pumpkin?
The Rouge Vif d'Étampes pumpkin, Cucurbita maxima, is a runny, late variety of French origin, introduced in 1885 in the book Les Plantes Potagères by Vilmorin-Andrieux. Its large, flattened, ribbed red fruits weighing 4 to 20 kg contain tender orange flesh, much appreciated in soups, purées and gratins. The flowers are also edible. This variety of squash keeps for 2 to 4 months.
How to sow Rouge Vif d'Étampes pumpkin seeds?
This squash can be sown from February to May in pots of 2 to 3 seeds, under a light shelter, and from March to June in the ground.
Sowing in pots should take place 2 to 3 weeks before transplanting. Be careful not to sow pumpkin seeds too early in the season, in which case the roots will become fibrous, making growth difficult in the vegetable garden. The seeds should be kept moist and warm, at a temperature of between 18 and 20°C, until they emerge.
To sow directly in the garden, wait until the last frosts have passed and choose a sunny spot. Prepare 2 weeks in advance holes filled with compost or organic matter, spaced 2 m apart in all directions, to accommodate the squash plants or seeds. Mulch the soil to maintain sufficient humidity and limit water evaporation.
Near the squash, we recommend planting corn and beans, giving rise to the "three sisters" or milpa crop. Basil plants can also be planted between pumpkins to repel pests.
How to store Rouge Vif d'Étampes pumpkin?
Rouge Vif d'Étampes pumpkins are harvested between July and November, before the first frosts. Drying out of the stalks indicates that the fruit is ready to detach from the plant. Be careful not to pull out the pumpkins, but cut as close as possible to the stem, 10 cm above the stalk.
This variety of vegetable can be stored for 2-4 months in a ventilated, dry place, at a temperature of 10-12°C. Place the fruit, spaced apart and tail up, in crates set high up. They can also be frozen for up to a year, after slicing and cooking.
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Sow in pots at 18-20°C, 2 to 3 weeks before planting. Transplant with the root ball into the ground, after the last frosts, at a minimum distance of 2 m in all directions. To sow directly in the ground, sow after the last frosts, once the soil has warmed up. In both cases, prepare holes filled with compost or organic matter two weeks in advance to accommodate your seedlings or seeds.
Cucurbita maxima
From 4000 to 20000 g
12 seeds
From 150 to 400 cm
France
1885
"Vilmorin-Andrieux "Les Plantes Potagères
This ancient variety was introduced to France in the mid-19th century.
