Pumpkin (winter squash)
Cucurbita maxima
Botanical family: Cucurbitaceae
A cucurbit close to the squash (same family, same growing), distinguished by its species (Cucurbita maxima): larger, rounder fruits, a soft spongy stalk, sweet orange flesh (Rouge vif d'Étampes, potimarron). Harvest before the first frosts, keeping the stem intact.
Full sun
Very rich, deep
Abundant
Frost-tender annual: planted out after the last frosts; a frosted pumpkin no longer keeps
An annual killed by frost in your zone
The same plant bears male and female flowers; insects, mainly bees, carry pollen from one to the other
One plant is enough for a crop
Role in permaculture
Very good winter storage (up to 6 months in a cool cellar): a pillar of winter food self-sufficiency.
Good companions
Fix nitrogen from the air (legumes)
Attract pollinators and beneficial insects
Trap plants (variable effect, need watching)
Traditional companion planting (benefit not demonstrated)
Poor companions
Insects attracted or useful
Seasons & availability
An autumn harvest, kept until the end of winter.
Available: January, February, March, September, October, November, December.
Guidance for the oceanic / temperate climate; it may vary with your region, altitude, exposure and growing method.
Sources
- RHS, « How to Grow Pumpkins » (rhs.org.uk/vegetables/pumpkins/grow-your-own)
- Interfel, « Potiron : Présentation, disponibilité, conservation » (lesfruitsetlegumesfrais.com/fruits-legumes/courges/potiron)
Nutritional & medicinal properties
For educational purposes. Not a substitute for medical advice. Effects depend on the form, the dose and personal context.
Precautions & contraindications
ANSES points out that some squashes and pumpkins, especially from spontaneous seedlings, saved seeds, or garden crosses with ornamental cucurbits, can contain cucurbitacins, bitter and irritant substances that cooking does not destroy. The safety rule is simple: if a piece has a bitter taste, you must spit it out and throw away the fruit, because ingesting it can cause digestive disorders (pain, nausea, diarrhoea) that are sometimes severe.
Family behaviour: Cucurbitaceae
In general, Cucurbitaceae are trailing and hungry for organic matter: they need water, warmth and a compost-rich soil. Their large leaves cover the soil and limit evaporation, the role they play in the Three Sisters guild (maize + bean + squash).
Understanding families means learning one rule per family rather than every pairing one by one. Learn more →
Species & varieties
The best-known species and varieties in France.