You Say Squash, I Say Pumpkin

Is it a pumpkin or winter squash?  Consider your response carefully, because depending on which corner of the world you call home, your choice of words might describe an orange colored fruit of the finest texture prized for both beauty and flavor, perfect fried, boiled, roasted or baked, or for all manner of soups, cakes, puddings.

Or it could be a disdainful reference to a lowly vine grown for cattle fodder.

Adding to the confusion are the prefixes ‘summer’ and ‘winter’, which, when paired with the term squash, do not actually refer to the season in which the plant is grown, but are simply terms which along with depictions of size and shape, are used to describe a particular variety.

While they do vary widely in appearance and certainly uses, summer squash, winter squash and pumpkin  are all closely related cultivars from the genus Cucurbita , including C. moschata , C. pepo , and C. ficifolia , all three of which originate in Central America, and C. maxima , which comes from South America.

C. moschata has been in cultivation for over 5500 years, and includes varieties we would likely describe as both winter squash and pumpkin here in the United States. C. moscata varieties have sweet flavored flesh which is eaten raw, or prepared in pies, cakes, etc.  Included in this group are popular varieties including ‘Waltham’ butternut squash, ‘Pawpaw’ pumpkin, and ‘Tahitian Melon Squash’.  Though bush types do exist, most cultivars from this group grow as a long trailing vine with large leaves.

C. pepo  can take much of the blame for all the confusion in terminology. This group includes popular ‘summer squash’ cultivars that are normally harvested when the fruits are immature like ‘Yellow Crookneck’, and various zucchini and scallop squash types like ‘Costata Romanesco’ and ‘Golden Bush Scallop’.

But also within the C.pepo group are ‘winter squash’ varieties including acorn types like ‘Table Queen’ , as well as turban shaped varieties including ‘Buttercup’,  and ‘Delicata’ – the sweet potato squash.

For those Interested in growing the family’s  jack-o-lantern or a jaw dropping 600 lb. pumpkin, C.maxima  includes the cultivars that we think of as pumpkins here in the US. Varieties from this group, like the monster ‘Atlantic Giant’, grow as vigorous trailer-climber vines with huge round leaves.

While the variety of names may confuse, cultivation of Cucurbita varieties is the same whether you’re growing a giant pumpkin or patty pan squash. Some bush types can be grown in areas with short seasons, but the majority of Cucurbita  cultivars grow as long, trailing vines which require 4-5 months of warm weather. A sunny location, warm fertile soil enriched with compost, and plenty of water are the basic requirements, and planting  seeds or seedlings in hills that are about 2’ in diameter and 12” high improves drainage and helps prevent moisture related problems.  To maximize space in the typical backyard garden, vines can be trained to climb on structures like fences, sheds, pergolas, etc. It’s tough to weed once Cucurbita varieties get established and quickly cover a large area, so it’s helpful to place a layer of mulch around the area before the plant really takes off. Watering established vine canopies in the morning is always preferable to evening watering as the sun will quickly dry the leaves, which are prone to mildew.  

Cucurbita plants have both male and female flowers, and a swollen ovary beneath the petals clearly distinguishes the female flower.  While pollination is normally carried out by insects, it can also be done by hand. Simply cut off a male flower, and transfer some of the pollen into the top of the protruding stigma in the center of the female flower.