Vegetable Crops–PLSC 451/551 Lesson 18, Cucumber, Squash

1. Vegetable Crops–PLSC 451/551Lesson 18, Cucumber, Squash Instructor: Stephen L. Love Aberdeen R & E Center 1693 S 2700 W Aberdeen, ID 83210 Phone: 397-4181 Fax: 397-4311 Email: slove@uidaho.edu

2. What do you get when you divide the circumference of a pumpkin by its radius?

3. What do you get when you divide the circumference of a pumpkin by its radius? Pumpkin Pi

5. Cucurbits -General Information Taxanomically diverse group Family consists of 96 genera, 750 species Widely divergent regions of origin, mostly tropical Most have vining or climbing growth habit Crop species are grown for fruits

6. Cucurbits -General Information Most are insect pollinated Flowering habit unique, with most Monoecious – unisex flowers on same plant Andromonoecious – perfect and staminate flowers on same plant Deep rooted, withstand drought but not moisture stress Most are day-neutral, fruiting response associated with vine mass

7. Cucurbits -General Information Most are insect pollinated Flowering habit unique, with most Monoecious – unisex flowers on same plant Andromonoecious – perfect and staminate flowers on same plant Deep rooted, withstand drought but not moisture stress Most are day-neutral, fruiting response associated with vine mass

8. Cucurbits -General Information Most are insect pollinated Flowering habit unique, with most Monoecious – unisex flowers on same plant Andromonoecious – perfect and staminate flowers on same plant Deep rooted, withstand drought but not moisture stress Most are day-neutral, fruiting response associated with vine mass

9. Cucurbits -General Information Most are insect pollinated Flowering habit unique, with most Monoecious – unisex flowers on same plant Andromonoecious – perfect and staminate flowers on same plant Deep rooted, withstand drought but not moisture stress Most are day-neutral, fruiting response associated with vine mass

10. Cucurbits - General Information Harvested immature or mature Short-term storage except for some squashes Most fruits subject to cold injury in storage Mostly marketed fresh

11. Cucurbits - General Information Common Diseases Mosaic viruses Fungal fruit rots Common Insect Pests Aphids Squash bugs

12. Cucumber

13. Cucumber Taxonomy Dicotyledon Family: Cucurbitaceae Genus and species: Cucumis sativa or anguira Related species: watermelon, luffa, gourds, chayote

14. Cucumber Domestication Originated in India Cultivated there for over 3,000 years Grown by ancient Greeks and Romans Brought to North America by Columbus Cultivated by native Americans in 1500s Gherkin (C. anguira) introduced from Africa

15. Cucumber Botany Domesticated types are monoecious or gynoecious Male flowers outnumber female flowers Flower type influenced by photoperiod - long days promote staminate flowering Pollination by bees – necessary for fruit set Ethephon promotes pistillate flowers

16. Cucumber and Gherkin

17. Cucumber Varieties Two major types in the US Slicers White-spined, long, slow seed maturation, dark green

18. Cucumber Varieties Two major types in the US Picklers Black-spined, short, rapid seed maturation, light green or whitish

19. Cucumber Varieties Middle Eastern Type Beit Alpha

20. Cucumber Varieties Chinese Types

21. Cucumber Varieties Japanese and Korean Types

22. Cucumber Varieties Indian Types

23. Armenian cucumber – same species as cantaloupe

24. Cucumber Consumer use Versatile Consumed fresh in salads, cooked dishes Processed into pickles, relishes Important source of vitamin B, vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and potassium

25. Cucumber Production/Harvest Principles Needs consistent harvest to maintain production Harvest Every other day Early in the morning when turgid Prior to seed development Size specification for picklers

26. Cucumber Harvest and handling Critically important to avoid harvest injury Remove field heat, cool to 50 degrees (hydro or room cooling)

27. Cucumber Storage Store at 50-55° degrees, 95% RH Susceptible to chilling injury - <50° Susceptible to yellowing - >65° Maximum storage period 1-2 weeks Susceptible to ethylene injury

28. Cucumber Sophisticated Production Systems Open field for machine harvest Bed production for fresh market Trellis systems Tunnels Greenhouse and controlled environment Hydroponic systems

29. Cucumber Open field, large-scale, machine harvest Intensive traditional or organic Restricted to picklers Gynoecious varieties Reduced labor Reduced yield Flat, smooth field

30. Cucumber Beds, medium to large-scale, hand harvest Intensive modern production Slicers and picklers Machine-assist harvest Raised beds for drainage

31. Cucumber Trellised, small scale, hand harvest Intensive-modern, garden market, or subsistence Slicers/fresh market Labor intensive Reduced land needs

32. Cucumber Tunnels (modified trellis) Common in Asia Intensive small-scale Fresh market types Labor intensive Reduced land needs

33. Cucumber Greenhouse (controlled) Common worldwide Often for export Needs high price return Parthenocarpic varieties Diligent pest control

34. Cucumber Hydroponic Controlled environment Very intensive/expensive Amenable to organic systems Extended production Requires diligence Requires unique knowledge

37. Squash and Pumpkin Botany Cultivated species: C. pepo – summer and winter, pumpkins C. maxima – winter squash, pumpkins C. moschata – winter squash C. argyrosperma (mixta) – winter squash

38. Summer squash/pumpkins -Zucchini -Jack o’ lantern pumpkins C. pepo

39. Winter squash -Butternut -Cushaw C. moschata

40. Winter squash/pumpkins -Hubbard -Buttercup -Turban -Giant pumpkins C. maxima

41. Winter squash/pumpkins -Jack-be-Little White pumpkins Blue pumpkins Seed pumpkins C. mixta

42. Squash and Pumpkin Genetics and breeding Insect pollinated (cross), bred as selfed crop Domesticated species closely related Can be crossed: C. pepo x C. maxima C. moschata x C. maxima Cannot be crossed: C. pepo x C. moschata (C. mixta rarely used in breeding, difficult)

43. Squash and Pumpkin Origin and Domestication Native of North, Central, and South America C. pepo cultivated in Mexico 8000 BC Evidence of cultivation of other species throughout Central and South America back to 3000 BC Distributed throughout the world by European explorers

44. Squash and Pumpkin Use and importance Fresh use: Boiled or baked Seeds used for consumption or oil Processed: Canned for use in pies Important source of carbohydrates, vitamin C, vitamin A, and certain minerals

45. Pumpkin Seed

46. Pumpkin and Squash World production systems Large-scale production (limited) Pumpkins for processing Pumpkins for seed (oil, consumption) Market garden production (very common) Organic production (especially summer squash) Subsistence production (Meso-America)

47. Other Squash-like Crops FigLeaf Gourd Cucurbita ficifolia Short-lived perennial, cold tolerant Fruit 6-20 in long, green with white stripes Dry fibrous flesh converted to alcohol or sugar added to make a dessert food Stores for up to a year without refrigeration Cultivated in Mexico and SA highlands

48. Other Squash-like Crops Chayote Sechium edule Short-day perennial vine Native to Central America Used by the Aztec culture Fruit eaten boiled or pickled Secondary use of roots as a source of starch Grown in Meso-America, exported to US, Europe

49. Other Squash-like Crops Loofah Gourd (Luffa) Luffa aegyptiaca (smooth) Luffa acutangula (angular) Annual climbing vine Indigenous to tropical Asia Angular used as a vegetable, mostly boiled Smooth dried and used as “vegetable sponge” Market garden and subsistence production worldwide

50. Other Squash-like Crops Bitter gourd Momordica charantia Indigenous to tropical India Perennial grown as annual Ridged, warty fruit, 3-10 inches long Immature fruit eaten , extremely bitter when mature Eaten fresh, more commonly cooked with other foods Market garden production in India, Nepal, Aisa