Pumpkin 'Marina Di Chioggia'
Cucurbita maxima
A visually-stunning pumpkin, this Italian heirloom from Chioggia, Italy is particularly prized for its culinary uses. In her book, The Compleat Squash, Amy Goldman describes this Italian seaside specialty as especially delicious for gnocchi and ravioli.
P.S., if you are a gardener or food lover, check out Amy Goldman's books (The Compleat Squash and The Heirloom Tomato).
I’ve become a bit obsessed with ornamental pumpkins. With so many unique shapes and colors, it’s hard not to want to try them all. And I mean, they're also edible and store well, so we're basically being very practical here.
Packet contains approximately 15 seeds.
DETAILS
Plant type: Annual
Days to maturity: 100 days
Light preference: Full sun
Plant spacing: See below
Hybrid status: Open pollinated
SOWING
Depth: 1/2–1 inch
Germination: 75–95°F
How to Grow
Sow indoors 3 weeks before transplanting out after danger of frost. Roots do not like disturbance, so we prefer to direct sow. Direct sow in late spring when soil is at least 70°F and danger of frost has passed. Sow 2 seeds at the appropriate spacing for the variety's vine length, 1/2- to 1-inch deep. Thin to one plant.
Spacing: To keep things simple, we space 36” apart in rows 6’ apart (as close as 24" on a trellis), but here are more-precise recommendations. Between-row spacing: bush plants, 4-5’; short vines, 6’; long-vines, 12’. In-row spacing: small, 18–24”; medium, 24–36”; large to XL, 36–72”.
Harvest & Storage
Pumpkins can tolerate a couple light frosts, but temperatures below 28°F can damage fruit. Harvest when fruit color is fully developed. Sun cure in the field for about a week or cure indoors by keeping fruits at 80–85°F with good air ventilation. Black pumpkins and white pumpkins are both sensitive to sun scald and should be brought out of direct sunlight once foliage starts to die back. Store at 50–60°F with 50–70% relative humidity and good ventilation.
SHIPPING
FREE: $100 or more on any seeds
$3.95: 1–9 seed packets
$7.95: 10+ seed packets
Photo Credit: Johnny's Selected Seeds
