Pumpkin Pink Jumbo Banana - Cucurbita maxima

The 'Pink Jumbo Banana' Pumpkin is a trailing and vigorous variety with pink fruits that ripen into enormous banana shapes. Their bright orange flesh is thick, delicate, sweet, and aromatic. They yield 1 to 3 fruits per plant, measuring 15 to 30 cm (6 to 12in) in diameter and 50 to 120 cm (20 to 47in) in length. Their weight ranges from 6 to 30 kg. Sow from April to June. Harvest from June to October.

Orange, green, red, yellow, black, or even blue, smooth, ribbed, warty, with tender skin, etc., pumpkins and courgettes offer us a surprising variety of shapes, colours, and sizes as they hybridise with disconcerting ease. That's why there are so many varieties. In common language, winter squash refers to all sorts of pumpkins and squash with tough skin and delicately sweet flesh. On the other hand, summer squashes or courgettes refer to the different varieties harvested while the skin is still tender. The latter are consumed with the seeds.

They all originate from America and belong to the large family of Cucurbits. They were introduced to Europe in the 16th century. Generally trailing, they cling to any support with their tendrils. Female flowers can be distinguished from male flowers by their inferior ovary (below the flower), resembling an embryo of fruit. In many regions, male flowers are harvested after pollination to be eaten stuffed or in fritters. There are multiple ways to consume pumpkins and courgettes. Sautéed, fried, in gratins, soups, or stuffed. Courgettes flourish in Provencal ratatouille, Italian caponata, couscous, or many other  Mediterranean dishes. Courgettes and pumpkins are low in calories but rich in vitamins, including provitamin A, B, and minerals.

Harvest: Pumpkins should preferably be harvested when ripe unless there is a risk of rotting. In that case, they can finish ripening indoors. Courgettes are harvested when young and fresh, still immature. All should be handled carefully and free from any cuts or bruises.

Storage: Courgettes can be cut into pieces and frozen for storage. Their delicate skin is not suitable for storage as is. Winter squash with tough skin can be stored for several months and consumed throughout the winter. Unlike other fruits and vegetables, they need warmth for optimal storage. There is no need to store them in a dark place, so you might as well keep them where their plump silhouette can be appreciated.

Gardener's tip: Place a slate or roof tile under the fruit. It will no longer be in direct contact with the ground, thus avoiding rotting due to moisture. Similarly, they particularly like slightly moist soils. Consider mulching around the plants, especially during the peak of summer. Pumpkins and courgettes are very susceptible to powdery mildew (a fungal disease that leaves a white fuzz on the surface of leaves). Be careful not to water the leaves or flowers. Pair your pumpkins with alliums like chives, onions, shallots, or legumes like beans or peas. On the other hand, the marriage of pumpkin and cucumber may be detrimental to both.

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