Rouge Vif d'Etampes pumpkin is a French heirloom producing large spherical bright red ribbed fruits, flattened, often bumpy, of about 40cm in diameter and weighing up to 20 kg. The flesh is orange-yellow and quite thick. This is an early pumpkin variety that will come very handy for making soups.
Scientific Name: cucurbita maxima
Plant Life Cycle: annual
Optimal Germination Temperature: 18C
Germination time in days: 7-14 Days
Indicative Days to maturity: 90-100 days
Sunlight: Full sun
Soil requirement: rich, well-drained soil
Sowing and cultivation: Sow indoors from late March through April if growing in the greenhouse, or late April through May to transplant outdoors. Sow direct outdoors from late May. Seeds should be planted 2 cm deep in good size pots, 1-2 seeds per pot/cell. Thin to keep the strongest seedling. When large enough to handle, transplant seedlings into bigger pots. Place in a propagator before transplanting outside. Leave 60-80 cm between the plants