How to Grow Galeux d'Eysines Pumpkins

Choose a site that receives direct sun all day or a minimum of six hours of sun per day. Amend the soil with planting compost, which contains manure, or homemade or commercial compost plus manure to create a rich, well-draining planting area. Mix the compost and manure into the soil to a depth of at least 1 foot.

Plant squash seeds 1 inch deep directly into the garden once the soil temperature is 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Or start seeds in 4-inch pots indoors on a sunny windowsill or under grow lights three weeks before the soil temperature is warm enough. Plant squash in groups of three to five seeds or plants. This is known as planting in hills, although you don't make a mound of soil. Space each group at least 6 feet apart.

Water squash plants regularly. If you don't have an irrigation system, water with a soaker hose or by hand, letting water slowly trickle into the soil at the base of the plant. Avoid wetting the leaves to help deter mildew. Pull weeds as soon as you see them. Check plants daily for signs of pests or disease and treat them immediately. Squash requires no additional fertilizer beyond compost and manure.

Harvest Galeux d'Eysines squash early if you plan to store them. Galeux d'Eysines squash mature in 90 to 105 days. Pick them after they have turned pink but before they darken to deep salmon, leaving a few inches of stem attached. The pink blush begins in late summer, followed by the warts, which will continue to erupt even after the squash is picked. The warts are caused by a buildup of sugars in the skin. Cure the squash for two weeks in a warm, dry, well-ventilated place. Store them at 55 degrees and make sure they have plenty of air circulation. Check them frequently for signs of rot. Harvest Galeux d'Eysines when they are mature and deeply colored if you plan to cook with them immediately.