Cucurbita maxima Pumpkins

Planting position: Full sun. Spacing of 1m between plants.
Requires regular watering (less during germination period). Well-draining, compost-enriched loamy soil and layers of mulching. Added 2:3:2 to preparing beds, at a rate of 65g.m ² and apply a side-dressing of 3:1:5 during flowering period. Encourage the growing of lateral branches by pinching out the main stems.
Propagate from fungicide dusted seed sown in situ on mounds.
Harvesting is done once the vines have died.
Pests, diseases and their cures: See Cucumbers

Pumpkins belong to 4 different Cucurbita species and vary in colour, shape, size and weight. A hard, ribbed skin covers the edible, strongly flavoured flesh and seeds of a pumpkin. This flesh are boiled, baked, mashed or used in soups. The seeds are also eaten when fried. Large, trailing vines carry velvety heart-shaped foliage and large, orange bell-shaped flowers.