Squash

For successful pumpkin sowing under cover, it is best to sow in cups or small pots filled with good quality potting soil. Pumpkin seeds can be sown from April onwards, taking care to press them about 2 cm into the substrate. It is important to maintain a constant temperature of around 20°C to encourage the seeds to germinate. Be sure to water regularly but sparingly to avoid excess moisture.

Once the plants have developed their first leaves, it is advisable to transplant them into well-prepared, sunny soil. Remember to space the plants about 1 metre apart to allow them to develop fully. Pumpkins like rich, deep soil, but don't need any special fertiliser if the soil is already fertile. Finally, be sure to mulch the base of your plants to keep the soil moist and limit weed growth.

To sow pumpkins outdoors, it's important to wait until all risk of frost has passed, usually in spring. Prepare the soil by carefully weeding and working it deeply. Make furrows about 1 metre apart and place the pumpkin seeds every 50 centimetres. Cover them with fine soil and pack lightly. Be sure to water regularly without soaking the soil.

Pumpkins need a lot of space to grow, so make sure you keep to the recommended planting distances. Mulch around the plants to limit weed growth and keep the soil moist. Pumpkins are susceptible to disease, so it's best to monitor them regularly for symptoms and act quickly if necessary, using biological control methods. By following these tips, you should have beautiful, healthy and tasty pumpkins for autumn.

To grow pumpkins, we recommend planting the seeds directly in the ground from May onwards, after the last frosts. Pumpkins prefer rich, well-drained, sunny soil. Before planting, it is advisable to amend the soil with compost to improve its fertility.

It is important to space pumpkin plants about 1 metre apart to allow them to develop fully. During growth, be sure to water regularly but sparingly, avoiding wetting the leaves to prevent disease. Pumpkins can be ridged to encourage rooting and limit weed growth.

Pumpkin plants can also be transplanted if they have previously been sown indoors in pots. In this case, wait until the plants have 3-4 leaves before transplanting them into the ground, taking care to space them sufficiently.

It is recommended to harvest pumpkins in autumn when their skin is hard and tough. To check if they are ready to harvest, tap lightly with your fingers. If you hear a hollow sound, the pumpkin is ripe. To harvest, cut the fruit with a knife, leaving a stalk about 10 cm long. Handle it carefully to avoid damaging the skin that protects the fruit.

After harvesting, leave the pumpkins to dry in the sun for a few days. Then store them in a cool, dry place, preferably between 10 and 15 degrees. Pumpkins can be stored for up to several months in the right conditions.

It's important not to use chemical fertilisers to grow your pumpkins in order to preserve their flavour and texture. Favour natural gardening methods such as mulching and crop rotation to encourage plant growth.