1. John Navazio Organic Seed Alliance
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 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!

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