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Summary
Physical Characteristics
Cucurbita is a ANNUAL CLIMBER growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in) by 3 m (9ft).
It is hardy to zone (UK) 3 and is frost tender. It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
C. argyrosperma. Hort. ex L.H.Baill.
Habitats
Edible Uses
Fruit - cooked[1, 177]. Used as a vegetable in pies etc, it can be stored for up to 6 months. Generally the fruit is fibrousy, watery and less richly flavoured than C. maxima., C. moschata. and C. pepo[183]. The flesh can be dried, ground into a powder and mixed with cereals for making bread, cakes etc[183]. The fruit is up to 20cm in diameter[200]. Seed - raw, roasted or dried, ground into a powder and mixed with cereals when making bread etc[183]. The seed is rich in oil and has a pleasant nutty flavour. Although relatively large[183], they are very fiddly to use because they are covered with a fibrous coat[K]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed[183]. Leaves - cooked[135]. Flowers - cooked[135, 183].
References
| Composition
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| Figures in grams (g) or miligrams (mg) per 100g of food.
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Flowers (Dry weight)
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- 308 Calories per 100g
- Water : 0%
- Protein: 26.9g; Fat: 5.8g; Carbohydrate: 51.9g; Fibre: 11.5g; Ash: 15.4g;
- Minerals - Calcium: 904mg; Phosphorus: 1653mg; Iron: 19.2mg; Magnesium: 0mg; Sodium: 0mg; Potassium: 0mg; Zinc: 0mg;
- Vitamins - A: 7692mg; Thiamine (B1): 0.38mg; Riboflavin (B2): 2.12mg; Niacin: 11.54mg; B6: 0mg; C: 346mg;
- Reference: [ 218]
- Notes:
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Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
The seeds are vermifuge[7, 88]. The complete seed, together with the husk, is used. This is ground into a fine flour, then made into an emulsion with water and eaten. It is then necessary to take a purgative afterwards in order to expel the tapeworms or other parasites from the body[7]. As a remedy for internal parasites, the seeds are less potent than the root of Dryopteris felix-mas, but they are safer for pregnant women, debilitated patients and children[238].
References
Our new book Edible Shrubs is now available.
Edible Shrubs provides detailed information, attractively presented, on over 70 shrub species. They have been selected to provide a mix of different plant sizes and growing conditions. Most provide delicious and nutritious fruit, but many also have edible leaves, seeds, flowers, stems or roots, or they yield edible or useful oil.
Read More
Other Uses
The seed is rich in oil.
Special Uses
References
Cultivation details
Requires a rich, well-drained moisture retentive soil and a very warm, sunny and sheltered position[1]. Plants are tolerant of high temperatures but sensitive to cool conditions, they favour moderate rainfall but the roots are sensitive to water-logging[200]. A frost-tender annual plant, the Cushaw pumpkin has long been cultivated for its edible fruit especially in warmer temperate and tropical areas. There are some named varieties[183] and these are day-length neutral[200]. Plants can succeed outdoors in Britain in most summers so long as they are started off early in a greenhouse and grown on quickly. Over time, various more or less distinct groups of cultivars have been developed and these have been classified by botanists as detailed below. Since they all have similar requirements, and it can be rather difficult to classify some varieties, we have dealt with them all here and not given them separate entries. C. argyrosperma. The Cushaw pumpkin, as dealt with in this entry. It is subdivided into:- C. argyrosperma argyrosperma. The silver-seed gourd. Cultivated mainly for its edible seeds which are larger than in other forms with an attractive silvery edge. C. argyrosperma callicarpa. Japanese pie pumpkin or green-stripe cushaw. C. argyrosperma stenosperma. Cultivated in Mexico, we do not know of a common name. This species does not hybridize naturally with other members of this genus, though crosses have been made under controlled conditions[86, 135]. 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[132]. This species is included in C. moschata by some botanists[86].
References
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
Fahrenheit:
The PFAF Bookshop
Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.
Shop Now
Propagation
Seed - sow early to mid spring in a greenhouse in a rich soil. Germination should take place within 2 weeks. Sow 2 or 3 seeds per pot and thin out to the best plant. Grow them on fast and plant out after the last expected frosts, giving them cloche or frame protection for at least their first few weeks if you are trying them outdoors.
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Found In
Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :
| Related Plants
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| Latin Name | Common Name | Habit | Height | Hardiness | Growth | Soil | Shade | Moisture | Edible | Medicinal | Other |
| Abobra tenuifolia | Cranberry Gourd | Perennial Climber | 3.5 |
8-11
| | LM | N | DM | 1 | 0 | |
| Acanthosicyos horridus | Naras. Butterpips | Perennial | 1.0 |
9-11
| F | LM | N | DM | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Benincasa hispida | Wax Gourd | Annual | 6.0 |
9-11
| | LMH | N | M | 3 | 3 | |
| Bryonia alba | White Bryony | Perennial Climber | 4.0 |
5-9
| F | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Bryonia dioica | Red Bryony, Cretan bryony | Perennial Climber | 3.5 |
5-9
| F | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 2 | |
| Citrullus colocynthis | Perennial egusi, Bitter-apple | Perennial | 3.0 |
10-12
| F | LM | N | DM | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Citrullus lanatus | Water Melon | Annual | 0.5 |
8-11
| | LM | N | DM | 4 | 3 | |
| Coccinia grandis | Ivy Gourd | Perennial | 3.0 |
8-11
| | LMH | N | M | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Cucumis anguria | Gherkin, West Indian gherkin | Annual Climber | 2.4 |
9-11
| | LMH | N | M | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Cucumis melo | Melon, Cantaloupe | Annual Climber | 1.5 |
9-11
| | LMH | N | M | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Cucumis melo agrestis | Wild Melon | Annual Climber | 1.5 |
9-11
| | LMH | N | M | 3 | 2 | |
| Cucumis melo cantalupensis | Cantaloupe Melon | Annual Climber | 1.5 |
9-11
| | LMH | N | M | 4 | 2 | |
| Cucumis melo chito | Orange Melon | Annual Climber | 1.5 |
9-11
| | LMH | N | M | 3 | 2 | |
| Cucumis melo conomon | Pickling Melon | Annual Climber | 1.5 |
9-11
| | LMH | N | M | 4 | 2 | |
| Cucumis melo flexuosus | Serpent Melon | Annual Climber | 1.5 |
9-11
| | LMH | N | M | 4 | 2 | |
| Cucumis melo inodorus | Honeydew Melon | Annual Climber | 1.5 |
9-11
| | LMH | N | M | 4 | 2 | |
| Cucumis melo momordica | Snap Melon | Annual Climber | 1.5 |
9-11
| | LMH | N | M | 4 | 2 | |
| Cucumis metuliferus | Horned Cucumber, African horned cucumber | Annual Climber | 1.5 |
9-11
| | LMH | N | M | 2 | 2 | |
| Cucumis sativus | Cucumber, Garden cucumber | Annual Climber | 2.0 |
9-11
| | LMH | N | M | 4 | 2 | |
| Cucurbita argyrosperma | Cushaw Pumpkin | Annual Climber | 0.5 |
2-11
| | LMH | SN | M | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Cucurbita digitata | Coyote Gourd | Perennial | 5.0 |
10-12
| M | LMH | N | DM | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Cucurbita ficifolia | Malabar Gourd, Figleaf gourd | Perennial Climber | 0.0 |
9-11
| F | LMH | SN | MWe | 3 | 2 | |
| Cucurbita foetidissima | Buffalo Gourd, Missouri gourd | Perennial Climber | 6.0 |
9-11
| F | LMH | SN | DM | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Cucurbita maxima | Winter Squash | Annual Climber | 0.6 |
2-11
| F | LMH | SN | M | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Cucurbita moschata | Squash, Crookneck squash | Annual Climber | 0.6 |
2-11
| F | LMH | SN | M | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| Cucurbita pepo | Pumpkin, Field pumpkin, Ozark melon, Texas gourd | Annual Climber | 0.6 |
2-11
| F | LMH | SN | M | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Cyclanthera brachystachya | Cuchinito | Annual | 3.0 |
9-11
| | LMH | S | M | 1 | 0 | |
| Cyclanthera pedata | Achocha, Caihua, Caygua, Cayua, Korila, Wild Cucumber | Annual | 4.5 |
9-11
| F | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| Ecballium elaterium | Squirting Cucumber | Perennial | 0.3 |
8-11
| | LMH | N | DM | 0 | 2 | |
| Echinocystis lobata | Wild Cucumber | Annual | 8.0 |
0-0
| F | LMH | N | M | 0 | 1 | 0 |
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Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
C.Huber.
Botanical References
200
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
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