Cinderella Pumpkin
Cucurbita maxima 'Rouge Vif d'Etampes'
vegetableCinderella Pumpkin (officially Rouge Vif d Etampes) is the French heirloom that inspired the iconic Cinderella carriage illustrations. The flattened deeply-ribbed fruits average 15 in across and 6 in tall (the squat shape gives them the carriage silhouette), with brilliant red-orange skin and excellent sweet flesh that bakes beautifully into pies and soups. Introduced to the US by Burpee in 1883.
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Sun
full sun
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Water
Every 3 days
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Harvest
~110 days
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Difficulty
easy
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Lifecycle
annual
One season, then done
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Spacing
4-6 ft between hills, 10-12 ft between rows
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Planting Depth
1 in
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Soil pH
6.0-6.8
Growing Details
Soil Type
Rich, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3 – 10
Grown as an annual — this range is its winter hardiness, but you can grow it for a single season in any zone.
When to Fertilize
Pre-plant; side-dress before vines run; again at bloom
Fertilizer
10-10-10 at 3 to 4 lb per 100 sq ft; side-dress with calcium nitrate at fruit set
🌱 Growing Guide
Sow seeds after all frost danger has passed and soil reaches 65F. Plant 1 in deep, 4 to 6 seeds per hill with hills 6 to 8 ft apart in rows 10 to 12 ft apart. Cinderella is a long-season pumpkin needing 100 to 110 days; in cool zones start indoors 3 to 4 weeks before transplanting. The vines are vigorous and sprawling; allow plenty of space. Side-dress with nitrogen before vines run.
Planting Calendar
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Start seeds indoors
Mar 25
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Transplant outdoors
Apr 29
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Projected first harvest
Aug 17
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Corn — Three-sisters partner; corn shades soil
- Beans — Fix nitrogen for hungry pumpkin roots
- Nasturtiums — Trap crop for squash bugs and aphids
- Marigolds — Suppress nematodes in the root zone
❌ Keep away from
Potato
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Wrap stems with foil collars near the soil; inspect for frass weekly and cut out borers if found
Crush brown egg clusters on leaf undersides weekly; trap adults under boards laid on the ground overnight
Row cover until flowers open; the beetles also vector bacterial wilt
Space for airflow, water at the base, weekly milk sprays late in the season
🌾 Harvest & storage
Cinderella is ready 100 to 110 days from sowing when the skin turns completely red-orange and cannot be dented with a fingernail. Cut from the vine leaving a 3 to 4 in stem (a clean cut and stem stub are crucial for storage). Cure in a warm dry place at 80 to 85F for 10 days to harden the skin, then store at 50 to 55F. Cured Cinderella pumpkins keep 3 to 5 months and make extraordinary pies.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
About 26 calories per 100 g raw with 0.5 g fiber, 9 mg vitamin C, 340 mg potassium, and 8513 IU of vitamin A. The deep orange flesh is rich in beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, all of which support eye health.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.