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.