Cucurbita maxima 'Hundredweight' (Pumpkin 'Hundredweight')

Botanical name

Cucurbita maxima 'Hundredweight'

Other names

Pumpkin 'Hundredweight'

Genus

Cucurbita Cucurbita

Variety or Cultivar

'Hundredweight' _ 'Hundredweight' is a coarse vine, with leaves that can be cooked like spinach, widely cultivated for its enormous, edible yellow/orange-skinned fruit with yellow flesh in autumn and for carving into jack-o-lanterns at Halloween.

Foliage

Deciduous

Habit

Clump-forming, Irregular

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Colour

Flower

Yellow in Summer

Foliage

Green, Cream, Mottled in Summer

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How to care

Watch out for

Specific pests

Eelworm (stem and bulb) , Mice , Red spider mite (box and other) , Slugs , Snails

Specific diseases

Anthracnose diseases , Basal rot , Black rot , Mosaic virus , Foot and root rot , Grey mould , Powdery mildew , Sclerotinia diseases , Verticillium wilt

General care

Propagation methods

Seed

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Monthly care advice

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Where to grow

Cucurbita maxima 'Hundredweight' (Pumpkin 'Hundredweight') will reach a height of 3m and a spread of 3m after 1-2 years.

Suggested uses

Add to salads, Beds and borders, Flavouring food and drinks

Cultivation

Plant in deep, fertile, sandy, and ideally slightly acidic soil. Pumpkins are not hardy - site in full sun in a sheltered position. Soak seeds before germination. Pumpkin plants started under cover can be planted out once all danger of frost is past.

Soil type

Loamy, Sandy

Soil drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

Acid, Neutral

Light

Full Sun

Aspect

South, West

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.

Tender in frost (H3)

Defra's Risk register #1

Plant name

Cucurbita maxima 'Hundredweight' (Pumpkin 'Hundredweight')

Common pest name

tomato thrips

Scientific pest name

Ceratothripoides brunneus

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

Thrips present in Africa; the Caribbean and parts of Asia; frequently intercepted in the UK. Can cause significant damage to tomatoes and other crops in countries where it is present. Europe wide PRA will consider its potential to establish and cause damage.

Defra's Risk register #2

Plant name

Cucurbita maxima 'Hundredweight' (Pumpkin 'Hundredweight')

Common pest name

Oriental tomato thrips

Scientific pest name

Ceratothripoides claratris

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

Thrips present in parts of Asia and East Africa; where it can cause damage to solanaceous crops. Europe-wide PRA will consider its potential to establish and cause damage.

Defra's Risk register #3

Plant name

Cucurbita maxima 'Hundredweight' (Pumpkin 'Hundredweight')

Common pest name

African cottom leafworm; Cotton leafworm; Egyptian cotton leafworm; Egyptian cotton worm; Mediterranean climbing cutworm; Meditteranea Brocade; Tobacco cutworm

Scientific pest name

Spodoptera littoralis

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

Regulated pest; frequently intercepted with occasional outbreaks which have been successfully eradicated in the UK.

About this section

Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.

Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here

Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.

Date updated: 7^th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/