Pumpkin, Winter Squash 'Big Max'
Cucurbita maxima
| Family: | Cucurbitaceae (koo-ker-bih-TAY-see-ee) (Info) |
| Genus: | Cucurbita (koo-KER-bih-ta) (Info) |
| Species: | maxima (MAKS-ih-muh) (Info) |
| Cultivar: | Big Max |
Type:
Pumpkin (winter)
Height:
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
Spacing:
8-10 ft. (2.4-3 m)
Days to Maturity:
111 to 120 days
Mature Skin Color:
Orange
Size:
35 to 100 pounds (16 to 45 kg)
Habit:
Vining
Disease Resistance:
Seed Type:
Open Pollinated
Other details:
Soil pH requirements:
5.6 to 6.0 (acidic)
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
Propagation Methods:
From seed; direct sow after last frost
Seed Collecting:
Allow unblemished fruit to ripen; clean and dry seeds
Properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored
Foliage Color:
Bloom Characteristics:
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Water Requirements:
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Where to Grow:
Regional
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
Unionville, Connecticut
Louisville, Kentucky
Ada, Michigan
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Aurora, Missouri
Croton On Hudson, New York
Dayton, Ohio
Elmira, Oregon
Cleveland, Tennessee
Nevada, Texas
Cheyenne, Wyoming
show allGardeners' Notes:
| Rating | Content |
|---|---|
| Neutral | On Oct 16, 2009, mygardens from Croton-on-Hudson, NY (Zone 6b) wrote: Growing pumpkins is quite a challenge unless you want to do it with chemicals. In the past I have taken out the borers as described at http://davesgarden.com/guides/terms/go/1604/ . I discovered that if I start the seeds in large containters and don't plant them until late July, there is enough time in our area, for the pumpkins to mature - if the gophers don't eat the leaves which they did for the first time this year. |
| Neutral | On Aug 20, 2004, DarcieC from Ada, MI wrote: Cucurbita maxima is the giant squash and comes in many shapes, colors and sizes. This "breed" looks a lot like the classic members of the Cucurbita pepo ("true" pumpkins) species, but gets a lot bigger and has a harder thicker shell. Sadly, many don't get quite as round as you may like, nor are they the best to cook with, but are fun to grow just the same! |
| Positive | On Aug 19, 2004, jaoakley from Toronto, ON (Zone 5b) wrote: These pumpkins are excellent for monster Jack O'Lanterns. This variety is often advertised as being capable of reaching 100 pounds. In my own experience, they have only reached 30 to 50 pounds, but this is still larger than your typical 20 pound Jack O'Lantern. The skin has an excellent colour, a nice bright orange. The flesh of this pumpkin is 3" to 4" thick and thus can be somewhat more difficult to carve in comparison to other pumpkins. The vines of this variety are much larger than most other pumpkins. |
