Winter squash
Cucurbita maxima
Belonging to the Cucurbita genus, Winter squash has a botanical name of Cucurbita maxima.
Pumpkins grow on a spreading vine which may be trained to spread over a trellis or the roof of a building (shed, veranda). Generally they are grown at ground level where they may spread anywhere between a 1metre and 5 metres, depending on the variety.
It is an edible vegetable / fruit and is treated mainly as an annual, so it grows best over the course of a single year. Normally growing to a mature height of 50.0 cm (1.62 feet), Winter squash grows with a vinelike habit. This plant tends to bloom in early summer, followed by first harvests in late summer.Mexico is believed to be where Winter squash originates from.
Due to how easy it is to grow in a variety of conditions, Winter squash is great for beginner gardeners and those that like low maintainance gardens.
This plant info is provided by the myfolia gardener's wiki. All details about Winter squash have been kindly provided by our members.
How to grow Winter squash
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Full Sun
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Medium
In some circumstances fruit may rot and fall off before gaining any size, small losses are not necessarily a concern. If this problem persists then it may be attributed to a lack of pollination which can be remedied by hand pollinating. In the early morning, take a male flower (generally on a long stalk, no fruiting body present) and apply it to the female flower (small bulb or fruiting body, at the base of the flower) so as to transfer pollen from male to female, thus mimicking the action of pollinating insects.
Water the plant by dripper or applying water directly at soil level (soaker hose, etc.), no splashing, misting or spraying foliage. Do this sometime between sunrise and before sundown, to allow humidity levels around the plant to stabilise and reduce fungi disease problems.
Powdery mildew may become a problem if humidity becomes too high – try a weekly spraying of a water and milk solution (1 part milk: 9 parts water) over the leaves at the first signs of mildew.
Position in a full sun location and remember to water moderately. Use Zone 10 - Zone 12 as your guideline for the appropriate climate for this plant. A soil ph of between 6.1 and 7.5 is ideal for Winter squash as it does best in weakly acidic soil - weakly alkaline soil. Keep in mind when planting that Winter squash is thought of as tender, so remember to ensure that temperatures are mild before moving outdoors.Growing Winter squash from seed
Seed will generally sprout with no assistance, however if the seed coating has not naturally cracked, light scarifying with sand paper may be used if germination issues occur.
Aim to sow 1.17 inches (3.0 cm) deep and try to ensure a gap of at least 2.27 feet (70.0 cm). Soil temperature should be kept higher than 21°C / 70°F to ensure good germination.Transplanting Winter squash
Direct seed when soil has warmed up. Ideal range is 21 to 35°C ( 70 to 95°F)
May be grown and transplanted as young seedlings.
Companion plants for Winter squash
These plants have been known to grow well alongside Winter squash so consider planting:
Repellent plants for Winter squash
These plants will not grow well with Winter squash so avoid planting these within close proximity:
Common Winter squash problems
These problems, diseases and pests are known to affect Winter squash plants:
Winter squash Etymology
The word pumpkin originates from the word pepon, which is Greek for “large melon". The French adapted this word to pompon, which the British changed to pumpion and later American colonists changed that to the word we use today, “pumpkin". 1, 2
Winter squash Folklore & Trivia
A commonplace motif of people being turned into pumpkins by witches.
The Jack-o-lantern custom discussed above, which connects to Halloween lore about warding off demons.1
Other names for Winter squash
Pumpkin, Kabocha squash, North ga. candy roaster, Pumpkin red warty, Squash , Roaster sweet squash
Misspellings: Curcibita maxima, Butter cup squash, Curcurbita maxima
Latest Winter squash Reviews
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09 Apr 2012
HazelJ's Squash, Winter 'Baby Blue Hubbard' was
Reviewed day 300
Unfortunately out of four plants I only got one tiny fruit. It may have been shaded by some nearby plantings, but it’s still disappointing. I may try it again, and “your mileage may vary.”
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23 Dec 2011
naturedance's Squash 'Hopi Pale Grey' was
Reviewed day 241
Harvested three lovely squash, but I’m not entirely sure they ripened properly (they still look greenish rather than really grey); they were great autumn decorations and I still haven’t tried cooking them. Would plant again.
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23 Dec 2011
naturedance's Winter Squash 'Pink Banana' was
Reviewed day 226
These wanted more sun and more regular watering than I could provide.
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23 Dec 2011
naturedance's Winter Squash 'Pink Banana' for Ms. Jean was
Reviewed day 223
These wanted more sun and more regular watering than I could provide.
Winter squash care instructions
How long does Winter squash take to grow?
Footnotes
Popular varieties of Winter squash
Winter squash Forums
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No matter what name you call them by, this group is for those who grow pumpkins, whether it be for carving or eating.
69 members / 14 topics
