Cucurbita pepo Flat Striped – Decorative green pumpkin with vertical stripes

The Cucurbita pepo Flat Striped is a unique and decorative ornamental gourd that, thanks to its striking green color with vertical stripes, is a real eye-catcher in the garden or on an autumn table. This variety stands out for its compact size, productive nature, and long shelf life, making it an excellent choice for both amateur gardeners and professional ornamental growers. Flat Striped is a classic ornamental gourd, intended for decorative purposes, and is not recommended for consumption.

Features of Flat Striped

Flat Striped is a flat, round pumpkin with a diameter of 7–10 cm, whose striking green striped markings give it a distinctive look. The berries are very uniform and robust, meaning they retain their shape even over time. Thanks to their long shelf life and excellent storage life, Flat Striped maintains its ornamental value for a long time, making them ideal for autumn decorations, craft projects, and themed displays.

Key features:

• Fruit shape: flat round, decorative

• Color: green with vertical stripes

• Fruit size: 7–10 cm diameter

• Maturation time: 85 days

• Rank behavior: moderate

• Use: decorative only, not edible

Growth form and plant structure

Flat Striped has a moderately vining growth habit, making it easier to manage in confined garden areas or raised beds. Its compact growth and prolific fruiting allow for the cultivation of many small, evenly shaped pumpkins in a relatively small area. This variety combines well with other ornamental C. pepo varieties for a colorful autumn display.

For optimal cultivation, we recommend a planting distance that suits the vine growth pattern of the variety, so that the plants have sufficient space to grow without overgrowing each other.

Cultivation and sowing method

Flat Striped grows best in warm, well-drained soil. Both seeding and direct sowing are possible, depending on the grower's preference:

• Pre-cultivation: sow from the end of April and plant out after the last night frost

• Direct sowing: from early May when the soil has warmed up sufficiently

Seed treatment and germination:

• Sow the pointed end of the seed downwards or flat

• Keep the seed slightly moist, avoid overly wet conditions

• After germination, place the seedlings in a lighter and cooler place

The optimal germination temperature is between 24–30 °C, which allows the seedlings to grow strong and healthy into mature plants that set fruit abundantly.

Decorative applications

Flat Striped is ideal for ornamental use. The combination of flat, round fruits and vertical green stripes adds a vibrant touch to autumn tables, flower arrangements, party decorations, and garden projects. These pumpkins are ideal for dried arrangements and crafts, where the variety's long shelf life and robustness are a major advantage.

Thanks to their compact size and uniform appearance, the fruits are also suitable for small displays or thematic arrangement sets, for example in shops or for festivals.