John Navazio Organic Seed Alliance Cucurbitaceae John Navazio Organic Seed Alliance

Cucurbitaceae 114 Genera 500 Species Mostly monoecious and some dioecious Mostly tropical or sub-tropical All genera (except 1) tendril bearing vines Corolla yellow or greenish is ephemeral Five petals, male flowers usually 3 stamens Female flowers w inferior ovaries w 3 carpels Fleshy berry or pepo, from one to many seeds

Cucurbitaceae Cucumis sativus – cucumber Cucumis melo – melon Citrullus lanatus – watermelon Cucurbita pepo – summer squash, acorns, Jack O’ lanterns, ‘Delicatas’, patty pans Cucurbita pepo subsp. ovifera-yellow flw. gourds Cucurbita maxima – Hubbards, Buttercups Cucurbita moschata – Butternuts Cucurbita argyrosperma – most cushaws Lagenaria siceraria – white flowered gourds

The genus Cucumis Cucumis sativus – “true cucumber” Cucumis melo – “melons” (following types) Reticulatus group–muskmelon, nutmeg m. Inodorus group – honeydew, casaba Flexuosus group – Armenian cucumber Dudaim group – Queen Anne’s pocket m. Chito group – vine peach, melon apple Conomon group – Freeman cucumber Cantalupensis group – true cantaloupes

Cucurbita pepo Pre-Columbian naturalization from Mexico to Southern Canada Includes all “summer squash” from patty pans, zucchini, yellow squash/crooknecks USA natives; ‘Delicata’ types, Acorn types Jack O’ Lantern pumpkins – most have true “Halloween orange” color

Cucurbita maxima Originally from the Andean highlands Adapted to Moderate daytime temperature and cool nighttime temperatures Can produce the largest fruit on Earth Includes all Hubbard and Buttercup types All Japanese Kabocha/Hokkaido types Includes the large “show” pumpkins like ‘Atlantic Giant’, ‘Hungarian Mammouth’, which all have a milky orange color

Cucurbita moschata and C. argyrosperma Both species originated in the lowlands of Central America and Mexico Adapted to high daytime temperature and warm nighttime temperatures Fruit are very late maturing! C. moschata includes all Butternut types and many “cheese pumpkins” C. argyrosperma (formerly C. mixta) include many of the “cushaws”. These two spp. are very hard to tell apart!

Hand Pollination of Cucurbits Close off both female and male flowers the night before w tape or capsules Delicately open them just as neededwhen pollen is “shedding” in the morning Discard any flowers w insects inside! “Sib-mate” if possible, use several males for each female to increase your chances Mark fruit w plastic tag/use black Sharpee