Cucurbita maxima
Winter Squash · Pumpkin
a vegetable vine or creeper of the Cucurbita genus in the family Cucurbitaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Cucurbitaceae
- Genus
- Cucurbita
- Is a variety
- No
- Habit
- vine
- Life cycle
- annual
- Growth rate
- vigorous
- Height
- 0.6 (unit unspecified)
- Spread
- 5 (unit unspecified)
- Fertility
- Self fertile, Insects
- Flower type
- monoecious
- Flower colours
- orange, yellow
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
The sprouting seed produces a toxic substance in its embryo[16].
- Level
- low
- Part
- Seed
Edible uses
- Plant part
- Flowers
- Product or use
- Fresh
- Plant part
- Fruit
- Product or use
- Cooked
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Product or use
- Cooked
- Plant part
- Seed
- Product or use
- Oil
- Plant part
- Seed
- Product or use
- Cooked
- Plant part
- Seed
- Product or use
- Flour
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
- Plant part
- Seed
- Product or use
- Diuretic
- Plant part
- Seed
- Product or use
- Nervine
- Plant part
- Seed
- Product or use
- Tonic
- Plant part
- Seed
- Product or use
- Vermifuge
- Plant part
- Fruit
- Product or use
- Poultice
Material uses
- Plant part
- Fruit
- Product or use
- Cosmetic
- Plant part
- Seed
- Product or use
- Oil
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Climber
Environment
- Range
- Origin is obscure, possibly derived in cultivation from C. andreana.
- Habitat
- Not known in the wild.
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 9+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral
- Drainage
- well drained
- Wind
- No
- Maritime
- No
- Pollution
- No
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
seed
{{#plant name:{{PAGENAME}} }} requires warmth for successful germination. Sow in a rich soil at temperatures above 20ºC (?ºF). 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.
- Seed Requires Scarification
- No
- Seed Requires Smokification
- No
- Seed Requires Stratification
- No
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Requires a rich, well-drained moisture retentive soil and a very warm, sunny and sheltered position[12][18]. Prefers a pH of 5.5 to 5.9, but tolerates up to 6.8[18]. Dry periods with a relatively low humidity favour the best growth[7]. A frost-tender annual plant, it is widely cultivated in tropical and temperate zones for its edible fruit, there are very many named varieties differing considerably in their fruits[4]. Most of the winter squashes derive from this species, including Hubbard, Butternut, Acorn, Argentine and Boston[18]. Many forms require a temperature range of 20 - 27°c during the growing season, but there are some forms that tolerate cooler conditions and these succeed outdoors most years in Britain[200, K]. Most cultivars are relatively insensitive to day-length[7]. 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[1]. This species hybridizes readily with C. andreana but can only be crossed with other species under controlled conditions[18][2]. Some modern works see C. andreana as being no more than a subspecies of this species, classifying it as C. maxima andreana (Naudin.)Filov. Grows well with sweetcorn and thornapple but dislikes potatoes[3][6].
References
Bianchini. F., Corbetta. F. and Pistoia. M. Fruits of the Earth.
? The Plantsman. Vol.8. 1986 - 1987. Royal Horticultural Society 32202/01/01
Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 32202/01/01
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 32202/01/01 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 32202/01/01 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 32202/01/01 ISBN 0-88266-064-0
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 32202/01/01 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 32202/01/01 ISBN 0-553-23827-2
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 32202/01/01 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 32202/01/01
Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8
Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. 32202/01/01
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 32202/01/01
Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 32202/01/01 ISBN 0094579202
Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 32202/01/01 ISBN 0723408394
Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 32202/01/01 ISBN 0-356-10541-5
Organ. J. Gourds. Faber 32202/01/01
RHS. The Garden. Volume 112. Royal Horticultural Society 32202/01/01
Towle. M. A. The Ethno-Botany of Pre-Columbian Peru.