Cucurbita maxima 'Turk's Turban'
squash 'Turk's Turban'
A winter squash producing distinctivly shaped rounded fruits, mottled in shades of orange, red, white and green and topped with a knobbly green cap. The fruit is quite ornamental, but it is good for eating, the flesh golden-orange, very moist, sweet and nutty. Harvest October and November - stores well, often to Feburary
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Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
1 yearUltimate spread
1.5–2.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Yellow | Green | Orange Red White Green | |
| Autumn | Yellow | Green | Orange Red White Green | |
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H2Botanical details
- Family
- Cucurbitaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Trailing
- Potentially harmful
- Humans/Pets: If crop is bitter, don't eat or feed to pets. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
- Genus
A small genus of climbing or trailing, annual herbaceous fruits. Several edible species are cultivated for food and other uses. Native to Central and South America. Solitary, star-shaped flowers are usually golden-yellow. Leaves are palmately lobed, covered with tiny, prickly hairs
- Name status
Unresolved
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in fertile, moisture retentive but well drained, acidic to neutral soil in full sun. Sow indoors March to May in good quality seed compost. Sow the seeds on their side 1cm deep and maintain a constant temperature of 18-21C. Feed regularly with a high potassium fertiliser when the first fruits start to swell. See cucurbit cultivation
Propagation
Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds
Suggested planting locations and garden types
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
Diseases
May be susceptible to grey moulds and powdery mildews
Get involved
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