Cucurbita maxima
Koshare pumpkin, Koshare winter squash: it belongs to the species Cucurbita maxima, known for its thick-fleshed, sweet winter squash — much better for cooking than classic Halloween pumpkins, which are often watery and bland. A fruit that is both spectacular on an autumn table and truly delicious on the plate.
Characteristics:
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Large fruits: large size, thick skin, and bright orange, dense, sweet flesh.
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Dual-purpose: as decorative in autumn as it is delicious in the kitchen.
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Excellent storage: thanks to its thick skin, it keeps for several months in a dry place.
Sowing advice:
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Exposure: full sun, with plenty of warmth.
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Soil: deep, loose, moist, and above all very rich — this is the decisive factor. Squash are extremely hungry feeders: plant them on a pile of mature compost or add plenty of organic matter. However, they do not tolerate stagnant water around the crown.
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Method: sow in pots under cover from April onward (20–25 °C), 2–3 cm deep, placing the seed on its edge to prevent it from rotting. Transplant after the last frosts. See how to sow your seeds.
Planting advice:
- Transplant with generous spacing, 1.5 to 2 metres apart: the stems spread a long way. Apply a thick mulch to retain moisture and keep the fruits clean.
Care advice:
- Water regularly and generously at the base, without wetting the foliage (risk of powdery mildew).
- Tip: limit each plant to 2 or 3 fruits and pinch out the stem after the last one, to produce much larger, better-ripened squash.
- Place a tile or board beneath each fruit to isolate it from the damp soil.
Harvesting advice:
- Harvest before the first frosts, when the stem is thoroughly corky and dry. Cut the fruit while leaving 5 cm of stem: without it, the squash rots quickly. Leave it to dry in the sun for about ten days before storing it in a dry place.
Beneficial companion plants:
Benefits for biodiversity:
- Its immense yellow flowers, which open early in the morning, provide an abundant resource for bees and bumblebees during the warmer months.
- Its spreading foliage covers the soil, protects it from drying out, and shelters beneficial soil organisms.
Uses:
- Soups, gratins, purées, pies, and preserves; its seeds can be roasted. As a decoration, it is perfect for autumn and Halloween displays.
Saving your own seeds:
Take the seeds from a fully ripe fruit, rinse them to remove the pulp, and dry them flat for several days. Please note: Cucurbita maxima cross-pollinate easily with one another — isolate your seed plant if you grow other winter squash of the same species. See how to save your seeds.
Our commitment to Quality: at SemiSauvage - Permaculture, we grow and select our seeds with respect for all living things as our guiding principle. Based near the Volcanoes of Auvergne, we choose open-pollinated, non-hybrid varieties, tested for their germination rate, carefully sorted and packaged, with no chemical treatment. Our belief: to give gardeners back the ability to sow, year after year, seeds that truly belong to them.
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