Cucurbita species
Family: Cucurbitaceae

Originally thought to have come from Mexico and Central America, pumpkins are annual vines or bushes, grown for their edible fruit. They can be used once the outer skin begins to harden; immature fruit has poor flavor and will not keep. Fruit intended for storage should be thoroughly ripe-when the fruit stalk turns brown and begins to wither. Leave about 8 cm (3 in) of stalk attached to the fruit for handling and prevention of entry of disease organisms into the fruit.

Species

Cucurbita maxima, C. moschata, C. pepo and C. pepo var. pepo are the species from which all today's cultivars derive. Pumpkins generally have a round, flattened fruit with a hard rind, though the colour may be shades of green, yellow or orange. The flesh is mostly orange or yellow. The plant is usually a running vine but bush types, which need less space, have been developed. There are numerous cultivars of pumpkin, but their availability varies from place to place. Most retail seed companies generally include a few in their mail-order catalogues. Probably the best known cultivars among the large-fruited pumpkins are 'Atlantic Giant' and 'Mammoth'. These are particularly popular with exhibitors in vegetable shows and competitions. There are also small and mini-pumpkins whose flesh is generally sweeter and with finer grain.

Cultivation

Grow in a warm, sunny spot, with protection from strong winds. Most varieties need at least five months of frost-free weather. If space is limited, bush types are more suitable. As soon as the soil warms up in spring, sow seeds direct in drills or hills. In areas with a short growing season, sow seed in pots, keep in a warm place and transplant when the soil has warmed. The soil should be enriched with organic matter, well-drained and moist. When the vines are around 1.5-2 m (5-6 ft), pinch off the tips to produce more laterals and increase the number of female tlowers. Weed control is essential. Before the fruit can develop, pollination must take place. Bees are the best pollinators although hand pollination is very successful. The home gardener should cut off the male flower and rub the pollen onto the stigma of the female flower (just above the ovary). (This can also be done with a small brush.) When this portion starts to expand, both pollination and fertilization have taken place. Female flowers have a distinct, rounded swelling under the base of the petals. Aphids, red spider mites, and powdery mildew may be a problem.

Climate

Zone 9 at least, but also grown as a summer annual in all climatic zones.