Cucurbita pepo

Cucurbita pepo is a cultivated plant of the genus Cucurbita. It yields varieties of winter squash and pumpkin, but the most widespread varieties belong to the subspecies Cucurbita pepo subsp. pepo, called summer squash. It has been domesticated in the Americas for thousands of years, from where it was spread by early colonisers to Europe and later across the rest of the Old World in the context of the Columbian Exchange. Some authors maintain that C. pepo is derived from C. texana, while others suggest that C. texana is merely feral C. pepo. They have a wide variety of uses, especially as a food source. C. pepo seems more closely related to C. fraterna, though disagreements exist about the exact nature of that connection, too. It is a host species for the melonworm moth, the squash vine borer, and the pickleworm. They are also the preferred pollen source for squash bees, which are the primary pollinators in the Americas.

Description

A bristly hairy annual vine in the pumpkin family. It has branched tendrils. The stems are angular and prickly. The leaves are roughly triangular. The leaves have 5 lobes which are pointed at the end and are toothed around the edge. Male and female plants are separate on the same plant. Male flowers are carried on long grooved flower stalks. Female flowers are borne on shorter more angular stalks. The fruit stalks have furrows along them but are not fattened near the stalk. The fruit vary in shape, size and colour. Often they are oval and yellow and 20 cm long by 15 cm wide. The seeds are smaller than pumpkin and easy to separate from the tissue. The scar at their tip is rounded or horizontal, not oblique. There are a large number of cultivated varieties.

Edible Uses

The fruit is cooked and used as a vegetable; it has a mild, watery flavour and is often harvested very young as courgettes. Because it has little flavour of its own, it is commonly used as a base for savoury dishes — the seeds are scooped out and a filling added before baking. Seeds can be eaten raw or cooked, or ground into a powder and mixed with cereals for bread-making. They are rich in oil with a pleasant nutty flavour, though small and covered in a fibrous coat. Seeds can also be sprouted and used in salads, though some caution is advised. An edible oil is obtained from the seed. Leaves and young stems are cooked as a potherb. Flowers and flower buds can be cooked or dried for later use. The root is reportedly edible when cooked, though this is uncertain. Dried flowers provide 308 calories per 100g, with 26.9g protein, 5.8g fat, 51.9g carbohydrate, 11.5g fibre, and 15.4g ash. Minerals include calcium 904mg, phosphorus 1653mg, and iron 19.2mg per 100g. Vitamins include A 7692mg, thiamine 0.38mg, riboflavin 2.12mg, niacin 11.54mg, and vitamin C 346mg per 100g.

Traditional Uses

The young fruit are cooked and eaten. They can be steamed, boiled or fried. They are used in pies, soups, stews and cakes. The young leaves and the ripe seeds can also be eaten cooked. The seeds are dried, salted and toasted and eaten as a snack food. The seeds can also be pressed to produce oil. The sprouted seeds are used in salads. Flowers and flower buds can be eaten boiled. They can be dried for later use.

Medicinal Uses

Pumpkin has a long history of medicinal use in Central and North America. It is a gentle remedy particularly valued for removing tapeworms in children and pregnant women, for whom stronger or more toxic treatments are unsuitable. The seeds are mildly diuretic and vermifuge; the whole seed including the husk is used against tapeworms — ground to a fine flour, made into an emulsion with water, and eaten, followed by a purgative to expel parasites. While less potent than the root of Dryopteris felix-mas for this purpose, the seeds are safer for pregnant women, debilitated patients, and children. The seeds are also used to treat hypertrophy of the prostate; being high in zinc, they have been used successfully in early-stage prostate problems. The diuretic action has been applied in treating nephritis and other urinary complaints. The leaves are applied externally to burns, and the plant's sap and fruit pulp can be used similarly. The fruit pulp is prepared as a decoction to relieve intestinal inflammation.

Known Hazards

The sprouting seed produces a toxic substance in its embryo.

Distribution

A subtropical plant. They are more suited to drier areas. They are frost sensitive. It grows best with day temperatures between 24-29°C and night temperatures of 16-24°C. It suits tropical highland regions. In PNG it is best between 1,000 and 2,000 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 8-11.

Where It Grows

Africa, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Caucasus, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, Central Asia, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, Equatorial-Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, FSM, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Guam, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Marquesas, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mexico, Moldova, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Caledonia, Niger, Nigeria, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pohnpei, Rotuma, Rwanda, Sahel, SE Asia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, St Helena, Sudan, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Turkey, Türkiye, Uganda, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Requires a rich, well-drained moisture retentive soil and a very warm, sunny and sheltered position. Prefers a pH of 5.5 to 5.9, but tolerates up to 6.8. Plants are tolerant of light shade (This comment is probably more applicable to warmer climates than Britain.). A frost-tender annual plant, the pumpkin or marrow is widely cultivated in temperate and tropical zones for its edible fruit. It has long been grown as a domestic plant and a number of different groups have been developed. Botanists have tried to classify these groups, though there is considerable overlap and clear distinctions are not always possible. Since they are very similar in their cultivation needs, we have treated all the groups together in this entry. The botanists classification is as follows:- C. pepo pepo. This includes the vegetable marrows, zucchinis, pumpkins and ornamental gourds. There are many named varieties and these can vary considerably in size, shape and flavour. The cultivars with larger and rounder fruits are usually called pumpkins, the fruits are harvested in the autumn and can be stored for a few months. The marrows are smaller than pumpkins and generally sausage-shaped. These can also be harvested in the autumn and stored for a few months, but it is more usual to eat them whilst they are still very small, when they are known as courgettes. Harvesting the fruits of the marrows when very small stimulates the plant into making more flowers (and hence fruits) so it can be a very productive way of using the plant. Pumpkins and marrows succeed outdoors most summers in Britain, in fact many of these varieties are well adapted to cool growing conditions and therefore do well in the British climate. C. pepo pepo fraterna. This is the probable progenitor of the marrows and so is of potential value in any breeding programmes. C. pepo ovifera. This group includes various summer squashes including the acorn, crookneck and patty pan squashes. C. pepo ovifera ozarkana. A probable ancestor of the summer squashes, it could be of value in breeding programmes. C. pepo texana. The texas gourd, or wild marrow, is another form that could be of value in breeding programmes. Plants produce both male and female flowers. These are insect pollinated but in cool weather it is worthwhile hand pollinating. Most cultivars are day-length neutral and so are able to flower and fruit throughout the British summer. A fast-growing plant, trailing forms can be used to provide a summer screen. This species does not hybridize naturally with other edible members of this genus. Squashes and pumpkins can be differentiated from each other by their fruit stalk, it is angular and polygonal in pumpkins but thick, soft and round in squashes. Pumpkins grow well with sweetcorn and thornapple but they dislike growing near potatoes. They also grow well with nasturtiums, mint, beans and radishes.

Propagation

Sow seed in April in a greenhouse in rich soil; germination should take place within 2 weeks. Sow 2 or 3 seeds per pot and thin to the best plant. The seed requires a minimum temperature of 13°C to germinate. Grow on quickly and plant out after the last expected frosts, giving cloche or frame protection for at least the first few weeks outdoors until plants are growing strongly.

Other Uses

The seed contains 34–54% of a semi-drying oil, which has been used for lighting.

Production

The first usable immature fruit are ready 7-8 weeks after planting.

Other Information

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. Not widely distributed in Papua New Guinea. Not as common as pumpkins. It is sold in local markets.

Notes

There are 25 Cucurbita species.

Also Known As

Abobora, Acorn squash, Aguzi, Akatewa, Amathanga, Apala, Ashkabak, Baanke, Babaka, Bonghom, Bovora, Bu-thakwa, Calabaza, Courgette, Elegede, Fan kwa, Flores de calabaza, Guias de calabaza, Ithanga, Iuhnawo, Kabewa goji, Kaddhu, Kohora, Korgety, Kumra, Kundir, Kurkaru, Loah, muBovora, Maximara, Minhanga, Obwogulu, Okono, Papukena, Paukena, Pharsi, Pokin, Safedkaddu, Sakriboate, Sakribonte, Sari kabak, Spaghetti squash, Suraikayi, Te bamkin, Te bangketi, Ugbogulu, Ukoro, Vegetable spaghetti, Wavukeni, Zucchini

References (116)

• Abbiw, D.K., 1990, Useful Plants of Ghana. West African uses of wild and cultivated plants. Intermediate Technology Publications and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. p 40
• Achigan-Dako, E, et al (Eds), 2009, Catalogue of Traditional Vegetables in Benin. International Foundation for Science.
• Ali, A. M. S., 2005, Homegardens in Smallholder Farming Systems: Examples from Bangladesh. Human Ecology, Vol. 33, No. 2 pp. 245-270
• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 149
• Anderson, E. F., 1993, Plants and people of the Golden Triangle. Dioscorides Press. p 208

More from Cucurbitaceae

Cucumis melo chito - (C.Morren.)Naudin.

Orange Melon

Cucumis melo conomon - (Thunb.)Makino.

Pickling Melon

Cucumis melo flexuosus - (L.)Naudin.

Serpent Melon

Cucumis melo inodorus

Honeydew Melon

🌱

Cucumis melo momordica - (Roxb.)Duthie.&J.B.Fuller.

Snap Melon

Cucumis melo subsp. agrestis

Early melon, Native gooseberry, People's melon