Winter Squash Muscade de Provence

Winter Squash Muscade de Provence: variety and characteristics

Winter Squash Muscade de Provence (Cucurbita moschata) is an annual vegetable of the Gourd family (Cucurbitaceae). This variety comes from southern France, producing large, flat, strongly ribbed fruits (8 kg) that ripen to a deep brown.

120 days are needed to full maturity. The flesh is deep orange, heavy, with a fine sweet flavour.

It will keep for a long time if left to ripen fully until midwinter.

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: 98%
• Seeds per packet: 10–14 pcs (2 g)
• Seed origin: Ukraine
• Sowing: April; direct or seedlings
• Harvest: October
• Position: sunny spot

When to sow Winter Squash Muscade de Provence

Winter Squash Muscade de Provence 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 Winter Squash Muscade de Provence

• 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 germinate easily in warm soil; gardeners in cooler areas can start their seedlings in pots in a warm place and plant them out after the risk of frost has passed. Pumpkins need plenty of water while growing; mulch well to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Harvest pumpkins when the stalk attaching them to the plant becomes woody and corky. Cut (do not pull) the stalk from the plant. Never lift the pumpkin by this "handle", because if it breaks off, the pumpkin will go mouldy within days.

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 Winter Squash Muscade de Provence be sown?

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

How many seeds are in the packet?

The packet contains 10–14 seeds, pack size 2 g.

What is the germination rate of the seeds?

The measured germination rate of this batch is 98%. 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.