Pumpkin Atlantic Giant - Giant Squash - Cucurbita maxima

The Atlantic Giant Pumpkin, also known as the Gargantua Squash, is a trailing variety that holds the record for the world's largest pumpkin: over 700 kg! But it more commonly reaches a more reasonable weight, between 150 and 250 kg. It is highly recommended for competitions. Its very thick, light orange flesh is of average quality but suitable for soups.

Pumpkins, potimarrons, and giraumons belong to the Cucurbitaceae family and the species Cucurbita maxima. This herbaceous annual plant has long, vigorous, trailing, or even climbing stems with the help of strong tendrils. Each plant has separate male and female flowers, making it monoecious; it is the female flowers that will produce the fruits once fertilised by the pollen from the male flowers.

They come in many shapes and colours, from large, ribbed, orange or red fruits with orange flesh, to oblong shapes, pear shapes, or 'Turkish hat' shapes. Originating from South America, this species is said to have been introduced to Europe around the 16th or 17th century, along with its cousins, other species of Cucurbita. They are often wrongly called "pumpkins" when they actually belong to a different species, Cucurbita pepo, with fibrous and hard stems. As for the pumpkin, it has sweet, tasty flesh that is less fibrous, with a tender and spongy stem.

Pumpkins are rich in vitamins and trace elements, low in calories, rich in potassium, and have antioxidant properties.

Harvesting and storage

Harvest the squash as late as possible, without risking the first frosts. Keep the stem as large as possible and store them in a temperate room, 10 to 15°C (50 to 59°F). This way, you can store them for a few months to a year, avoiding them from touching each other.

Gardener's tips

You can bury the stems at the nodes to encourage rooting.

To save space and protect your fruits from rot, you can grow pumpkins on supports such as a trellis or sturdy frames.

During fruit ripening, you can place a tile or brick, for example, between the ground and the fruit to isolate it and limit premature rotting. A thick mulch will also do the trick.