文档介绍：ORGANIC PUMPKIN AND WINTER SQUASH
PRODUCTION
CURRENT TOPIC
By Bachmann
NCAT Agriculture Specialist
August 2002
BACKGROUND
Winter squash, pumpkins, and gourds all belong to the genus Cucurbita. Four species—discern-
ible by their stem structure—monly grown in the United States (1). Production practices
are essentially the same for all.
Cucurbita maxima has a short, corky, round stem and tends to be more yellow than orange. The
species includes several large pumpkins and most winter squash (Hubbard, Buttercup, Banana,
Mammoth, and Turban).
Cucurbita pepo is usually recognized as the true pumpkin and includes many pie, jack-o-lantern,
and field pumpkins as well as summer squash, acorn squash, and spaghetti squash. Varieties
within this group have hard, woody, distinctly furrowed stems. The pumpkins have bright, deep
orange skin.
The stems of Cucurbita moshata are deeply ridged, pentagonal, and smooth. They enlarge but do
not flare next to the fruit. A member of this group is used for most of the canned pumpkin sold in
this country. Most varieties are tan and oblong. Cushaw, Winter Crookneck, and Butternut squash
are in this species.
Cucurbita mixta was once included with C. moschata, but differs in flesh texture and has an
enlarged corky stem. It is primarily a processing squash.
Cucurbita species originated over 9,000 years ago in Central and