Organic 'Big Max' Pumpkin

Organic 'Big Max' pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo), offered by the seed company Aimers

This open-pollinated variety is renowned for producing enormous, nearly round pumpkins with thick, slightly reddish-orange skin. The fruits can reach spectacular sizes and have firm, yellow-orange flesh, suitable for both carving and cooking. Vigorous and impressive, this pumpkin is especially prized for autumn decorations and giant lanterns.

Propagation: Direct sowing in late spring or indoor sowing
Plant height: 300 to 400 cm
Package size: Approximately 20 seeds
Harvest time: Approximately 120 days
Frost tolerance: Killed by frost
Companion plants: Corn, beans, nasturtiums
Incompatible plants: Potatoes

Planting and maintenance:
Sow directly outdoors when the soil is warm, usually from late May to June, at a depth of about 2.5 cm, in full sun and in rich, well-drained soil. Plant in mounds spaced about 2 m apart and keep the strongest seedlings after germination. Water regularly and enrich the soil with compost. To obtain very large fruit, limit production to one or two pumpkins per plant and remove any other flowers or young fruit.