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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Cucurbita is a ANNUAL CLIMBER.
It is hardy to zone (UK) 9 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.

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].

Composition

Figures in grams (g) or miligrams (mg) per 100g of food.

Flowers (Dry weight)

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:

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].

Other Uses

None known

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].

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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

Latin Name

Cranberry Gourd

Acanthosicyos horridus

Naras. Butterpips

Benincasa hispida

Wax Gourd

Bryonia alba

White Bryony

Bryonia dioica

Red Bryony, Cretan bryony

Citrullus lanatus

Water Melon

Coccinia grandis

Ivy Gourd

Cucumis anguria

Gherkin, West Indian gherkin

Cucumis melo

Melon, Cantaloupe

Cucumis melo agrestis

Wild Melon

Cucumis melo cantalupensis

Cantaloupe Melon

Cucumis melo chito

Orange Melon

Cucumis melo conomon

Pickling Melon

Cucumis melo flexuosus

Serpent Melon

Cucumis melo inodorus

Honeydew Melon

Cucumis melo momordica

Snap Melon

Cucumis metuliferus

Horned Cucumber, African horned cucumber

Cucumis sativus

Cucumber, Garden cucumber

Cucurbita argyrosperma

Cushaw Pumpkin

Cucurbita ficifolia

Malabar Gourd, Figleaf gourd

Cucurbita foetidissima

Buffalo Gourd, Missouri gourd

Cucurbita maxima

Winter Squash

Cucurbita moschata

Squash, Crookneck squash

Cucurbita pepo

Pumpkin, Field pumpkin, Ozark melon, Texas gourd

Cyclanthera brachystachya

Cuchinito

Cyclanthera pedata

Achocha, Caihua, Caygua, Cayua, Korila, Wild Cucumber

Ecballium elaterium

Squirting Cucumber

Echinocystis lobata

Wild Cucumber

Gynostemma pentaphyllum

Sweet Tea Vine

Herpetospermum pedunculosum

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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Subject : Cucurbita

Cucurbita - C.Huber.