Acorn squash

Can train on a trellis or a fence. Tie to support as fruits get heavy

Make a 12" diameter hill and sow 6-8 seeds around it. Thin to 3-4 seedlings/hill. If planting in rows thin to 18-24" in rows 8 feet apart

These plants have been known to grow well alongside Acorn squash so consider planting:

These plants will not grow well with Acorn squash so avoid planting these within close proximity:

These problems, diseases and pests are known to affect Acorn squash plants:

Eight groups of edible cultivars of C. pepo are known:

• Pumpkin (C. pepo L. var. pepo L. Bailey) includes cultivars of creeping plants which produce spherical, oval or oblate fruit that is rounded or flat at the ends. The fruit of this group is grown to be eaten when ripe and sometimes is used as fodder.

• Scallop (C. pepo L. var. clypeata Alefield) has a semi-shrubby habit, the fruit ranges from flat to almost discoidal, with undulations or equatorial margins, and it is eaten before maturity.

• Acorn (C. pepo L. var. turbinata Paris) is both a shrubby and creeping plant with fruit which is obovoid or conical, pointed at the apex and longitudinally costate-grooved. The rind is soft, hence the fruit can be eaten in the ripe state.

• Crookneck (C. pepo L. var. torticollia Alefield) is a shrubby type, with yellow, golden or white fruit which is claviform and curved at the distal or apical end and generally has a verrucose rind. It is eaten unripe since the rind and the flesh harden when ripe.

• Straightneck (C. pepo L. var. recticollis Pans) is a shrubby plant with yellow or golden fruit and a verrucose rind similar to that of var. torticollia.

• Vegetable marrow (C. pepo L. var. fastigata Paris) has creeper characteristics as a semi-shrub and has short cylindrical fruit that is slightly broader at the apex, with a smooth rind which hardens and thickens on ripening and which varies in colour from cream to dark green.

• Cocozzelle (C. pepo L. var. Ionga Paris) has cylindrical, long fruit that is slender and slightly bulbous at the apex; it is eaten in the unripe state and one of the most common names is Cocozzelle.

• Zucchini (C. pepo L. var. cylindrica Paris) is the most common group of cultivars at present. Like the previous group, the zucchini group has a strong affinity with the vegetable marrow and its origin is also recent (nineteenth century). Its plants are generally semi-shrubby and its cylindrical fruit does not broaden or else broadens only slightly. It is eaten as a vegetable in the unripe state.

Winter squash

Cucurbita pepo, cucurbita pepo L. var turbinata Paris, C. Pepo