Turban Squash Mini Red

Turban Squash Mini Red — variety description

Turban Squash Mini Red (Cucurbita maxima) is an annual vegetable of the Gourd family (Cucurbitaceae). The fruits are two-coloured – bright red-orange at the top and creamy white below.

They are small (8–12 cm), which makes them ideal for autumn decorations, and they can also be used in cooking (the flesh is edible, with a sweetish taste).

The plant is annual, with a trailing habit, and requires a sunny spot and well-drained soil.

The pumpkin is the symbol of the autumn garden — for roasting, pies, soups, purées and long winter storage. Besides edible ones, there are also ornamental varieties for decoration.

Key features

• Measured germination rate of the batch: 96%
• Seeds per packet: 8–12 pcs (2 g)
• Seed origin: China
• Sowing: April; direct or seedlings
• Harvest: October
• Position: sunny spot

When to sow Turban Squash Mini Red

Turban Squash Mini Red seeds are sown in April. Harvest takes place in October. The months are a guide for a temperate climate — in warmer areas sow 1–2 weeks earlier, in cooler or upland areas, later.

How to sow and grow Turban Squash Mini Red

• Sowing method: direct or seedlings
• Depth: 3–4 cm
• Spacing: 1–2 m
• Germination: 5–10 days at 20–25 °C
• Position: sunny spot

Pumpkins need a warm summer to do well, and although they can be sown directly from mid-May to June. It is best to sow the seeds early and indoors from April to May, then transplant them outside when the risk of frost has passed. It is sown in pots between March and April and planted outdoors in May, allowing at least 4 sq. m. of space per plant. It can be sown 2 cm deep when the soil is already warm. Pumpkins are cut with a few centimetres of stalk, after which they can be left to dry in the sun for a few days. It can be stored for months without spoiling.

Sow directly into warm soil (above 15 °C) at 2–3 seeds per hill, or plant transplants at 3–4 weeks. The pumpkin likes rich, fertilised soil and generous watering when the fruit sets.

Harvest and use

Harvest when the stalk dries and the skin cannot be dented by a fingernail. Leave pumpkins in the sun for 1–2 weeks to “cure” before storing.

Frequently asked questions

When should Turban Squash Mini Red be sown?

The recommended sowing month is April. Sowing method: direct or seedlings.

How many seeds are in the packet?

The packet contains 8–12 seeds, pack size 2 g.

What is the germination rate of the seeds?

The measured germination rate of this batch is 96%. The test was carried out under controlled laboratory conditions; in the field, emergence depends on soil, temperature and moisture.

How long does a pumpkin keep?

Well-ripened pumpkins with the whole stalk keep for 3–6 months in a dry, cool place (10–15 °C).

When is pumpkin sown?

Directly outdoors after the last frosts — late April and May; for an earlier harvest, transplants from early April.