Cucurbita maxima 'Turbaniformis', commonly known as Turk's Turban or Turk's Cap squash, is a Half-Hardy Annual belonging to the same species as Crown Prince and Hubbard squashes. It is a vigorous trailing vine that produces large, lobed leaves on long stems and requires space — but rewards generously with some of the most visually dramatic fruits in the squash family.

The Turban Explained: The distinctive shape is caused by a secondary fruit — a smaller, striped "button" — that develops protruding from the blossom end of the main fruit, enclosed within a hard ring at its base. This feature is entirely natural and is the defining characteristic of the Turbaniformis group. The colouring deepens and intensifies as the fruit matures through late summer and into autumn.

Turk's Turban needs a long growing season to develop its spectacular fruits — sowing indoors in April gives it the head start it needs to ripen fully before the first autumn frosts.

How to Sow:
Sow indoors from mid-April to mid-May. Sow seeds individually into 7–9cm pots of good-quality seed compost, placing each seed on its edge approximately 2cm deep — sowing on the edge prevents the seed from rotting by allowing excess moisture to drain away from the seed surface. Maintain a temperature of 18–21°C. Germination typically occurs within 7–10 days. Grow on in a warm, bright spot and avoid over-watering.

Transplanting:
After the last frost has passed — typically late May to early June in most of the UK — harden off plants for 7–10 days before planting out into their final position. Space plants 90cm–1.2m apart in all directions; these are vigorous vines that need room. Prepare the planting hole with a generous amount of well-rotted compost or manure, as squashes are hungry plants.

Ongoing Care:
Water deeply and regularly at the base of the plant, avoiding the leaves to reduce the risk of mildew. Once the first fruits have set, feed weekly with a high-potassium liquid fertiliser. To encourage the largest and most vibrant fruits, limit each plant to two or three fruits by removing excess female flowers once the preferred fruits are established and growing strongly. Train the trailing stems as needed, or allow them to scramble freely.

Harvesting:
Harvest from September to October, once the skin has hardened completely and the stalk has begun to dry and cork over. Cut with a generous length of stalk — at least 5cm — to maximise storage life. Cure in a warm, dry spot for 10–14 days to further harden the skin before storing or displaying. Stored in a cool, dry, frost-free place, Turk's Turban will keep for 3–6 months.

Turk's Turban is the centrepiece of the productive autumn garden — these companions from our range are classic potager partners that look beautiful, improve the growing conditions, and bring the whole picture to life:

• 🌼 Nasturtium 'Tom Thumb': The Squash's Bodyguard. Nasturtiums are one of the classic companions for squash and courgettes — their peppery scent repels aphids and whitefly, and they act as a "trap crop," drawing blackfly away from the squash vines onto themselves instead. Their bold orange and red flowers also look stunning tumbling around the base of the squash, adding colour to the vegetable garden from early summer whilst the squash fruits are developing.
• 🧡 Calendula 'Art Shades Mixed': The Potager Classic. The warm apricot, cream, and amber tones of Art Shades Calendula are a perfect autumnal match for the rich orange colouring of Turk's Turban. Calendula is one of the most valuable companion plants in the kitchen garden — it attracts beneficial hoverflies and lacewings that prey on aphids, and its resin-coated roots are believed to deter soil nematodes. An edible flower, beautiful in the border, and genuinely useful in the veg patch.
• 🌼 Borage: The Pollinator Powerhouse. Borage is the great squash companion — it attracts and concentrates pollinating bees around the vegetable garden at exactly the time squash flowers need pollinating for fruit to set. Poor pollination is the most common reason squash fruits fail to develop, and a patch of Borage nearby keeps a steady supply of bees working the area all day. Its deep blue edible flowers also make a spectacular garnish alongside roasted squash on an autumn plate.
• 🌿 Basil Classic Italian: The Aromatic Deterrent. Basil planted near squash is a traditional Italian kitchen garden trick — its strong aromatic oils are believed to confuse and deter the aphids, whitefly, and spider mites that can attack squash foliage in warm weather. As a practical bonus, Basil and roasted Turk's Turban are a natural pairing on the plate — the sweet, nutty squash flesh with good olive oil and torn basil is a deeply satisfying combination.

Sow indoors in April for a long growing season — Turk's Turban needs the full British summer to develop its spectacular fruits before the first frosts of autumn arrive.