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Cucurbitaceae

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

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Cucurbitaceae

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  1. Cucurbitaceae John Navazio Organic Seed Alliance

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. Cucurbita moschata andC. 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!

  8. 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

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