Common Name: Squash

General Information

Cucurbita moschata is an annual climbing plant that can produce stems up to 5 metres long. These stems tend to sprawl over the ground, though they also climb into the surrounding vegetation where they support themselves by means of tendrils.
The plant is widely cultivated, especially in warm temperate and tropical areas, mainly for its edible fruit, though it is also an important leaf vegetable in Africa, supplies a popular edible seed and has a wide range of medicinal uses[, ].

Known Hazards

The sprouting seed produces a toxic substance in its embryo[].

Botanical References

Range

Probably from Central and South America, though the exact origin is obscure.

Habitat

Not known in the wild

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Annual Climber
Height	0.60 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Cultivated

Cultivation Details

Most cultivars of Cucurbita moschata are relatively insensitive to day-length[], and so the plant can be grown from the temperate zone to the tropics, so long as there is a warm growing season of at least 150 days. It can be grown at elevations up to 2,400 metres in the tropics. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 30°c, but can tolerate 10 - 40°c[]. It can be killed by temperatures of 0°c or lower. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 600 - 1,600mm, but tolerates 300 - 2,800mm[]. It is well adapted to the hot and humid environment of the lowland tropics, but optimal production is obtained in areas with fairly low humidity[].
Requires a rich, well-drained moisture retentive soil and a very warm, sunny and sheltered position[, , ]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 to 7.5, tolerating 4.5 - 8.3[, ]. Moderate rainfall favours growth, but the roots of most cultivars are sensitive to high soil-water levels[].
Under low input conditions, a yield of around 5 - 15 tonnes of fruit per hectare can be obtained; with improved cultivars, a yield of 30 tonnes is attainable[].
An average yield of leaves is 2 tonnes per hectare per picking, or about 20 tonnes during a harvest period of two months[].
Seed yield is variable, possibly 300 - 500 kilos per hectare[]a. If grown for seed production, isolation between fields of musk pumpkin and of other Cucurbita species is recommended, not only to maintain seed purity, but also to obtain maximum yields, since pollen of other species may cause reduced fruit set and parthenocarpic fruits[].
There are very many named varieties widely differing in size shape and taste[, ]. Some varieties are used as soon as they are harvested, though others can be stored for several months after their harvest.
Most cultivars are day-length neutral[].
There are three major species in this genus that are cultivated for their fruits (Cucurbita maxima, Cucurbita moschata and Cucurbita pepo), and they are often not easy to distinguish. The plant habit is similar and the fruit shape and size within each species are variable. Distinction is easiest by observing differences of the fruit stalk, stems and leaves:-
Cucurbita maxima has a soft, rounded fruit stalk not enlarged at the apex, soft, rounded stems and soft, usually unlobed leaves[].
Cucurbita moschata has a hard, smoothly angled fruit stalk widened at the apex, hard, smoothly grooved stems and soft, moderately lobed leaves[].
Cucurbita pepo has an angular fruit stalk sometimes slightly widened at the apex, hard, angular, grooved, prickly stems and palmately lobed, often deeply cut and prickly leaves[].
This species only hybridizes with other members of the genus under controlled conditions[, ].

Edible Uses

Fruit - cooked[, , , ]. Some cultivars have a delicious flavour when baked, rather like a sweet potato[]. The flesh can be dried and ground into a powder then used in making breads etc[]. Individual fruits can weigh up to 15 kilos[]. Some varieties can be stored for up to 9 months.

Seed - raw or cooked[, , ]. Rich in oil with a pleasant nutty flavour[] but very fiddly to use because the seed is small and covered with a fibrous coat[].

An edible oil is obtained from the seed[].

Leaves and young stems - cooked and used as a potherb or added to soups, stews etc[, , ]. An important vegetable in parts of Africa[].

Flowers - cooked[, , ].

Medicinal

The seed is emollient, laxative and vermifuge[, ]. It is eaten fresh or roasted for the relief of abdominal cramps and distension due to intestinal worms[]. About 800 peeled seeds is said to make a safe and effective treatment for tape worm[]. They are ground into a fine flour, then made into an emulsion with water and eaten. It is then necessary to take a purge in order to expel the tapeworms or other parasites from the body[].

The oil from the seed is used as a vanishing cream for reddish blotches[].

The boiled root is galactagogue[].

The leaves are used to treat haemorrhages[].

An infusion of the flowers is used as a treatment for jaundice[].

The crushed fruit pulp is used as a cataplasm, placed on forehead to remedy headache, on the eyes to treat ophthalmia, and on all kinds of tumours[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Grows well with sweetcorn, radishes and nasturtium but dislikes potatoes[, ].
The traditional cropping system of growing this plant for leaves and/or fruit production in Africa is to intercrop it with maize or sorghum[].

Other Uses

None known

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.