II.2. SQUASHES, PUMPKINS, ZUCCHINIS, GOURDS (CURCURBITA SPECIES) – 117
December. Unlike other cultivated species of the genus, it is less frequent for varieties of
the argyrosperma complex to be found in vegetable gardens, plots or in small agricultural
holdings, or to be associated with other species (Lira-Saade and Montes-Hernández,
1992). In some areas its rapid growth is used to provide ground cover with the aim of
preventing weeds from developing in the field.
Cucurbita ficifolia
Cucurbita ficifolia is a crop grown mainly in traditional heavy rain agricultural
systems. It is typically sowed at the beginning of the rainy season, and harvested from the
end of September (young fruit and flowers for vegetables) to December or January (ripe
fruit for seeds and pulp) in the northern hemisphere. The only form of propagation is the
sowing of seed, together with one of the traditional crops of this type of agriculture
(maize, bean and other species of Cucurbita) or else cultivation in vegetable gardens
along with other species or by itself. The ripe fruit is harvested and selected for seed.
It can be stored for long periods (18-20 months) and it is frequently seen drying on the
roofs of farmers’ houses (Lira-Saade and Montes-Hernández, 1992).
Cucurbita maxima
Cucurbita maxima prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) or heavy soil (clay) which
is well-drained. The plant prefers acidic and neutral soils. It can grow in semi-shade or no
shade. Dry periods with a relatively low humidity favour the best growth.
A frost-sensitive annual plant, it is widely cultivated in the tropical and temperate zones.
It is one of the species used in large-scale production agriculture.
Cucurbita moschata
C. moschata variants are grown under traditional, heavy rain agricultural systems.
It is possible to find varieties grown in maize fields together with maize, beans and one or
two other Cucurbita, or in vegetable gardens and other more intensively managed
farmland where they are grown alone or with other species. There are some old references
to a considerable variation in Colombia, but that has yet to be properly documented and
evaluated (Lira-Saade and Montes-Hernández, 1992). The greatest diversity lies in the
neotropics where the vines are grown under a wide range of ecological conditions,
including under hotter conditions than are tolerated by the other Cucurbita species
(Andres, 2004). This species is used in large-scale production agriculture.
Cucurbita pepo
In its native area of distribution, C. pepo is grown both in maize fields and vegetable
gardens as well as in other more intensive systems. In the former case, it is combined
with maize, beans and/or with one to three of the other cultivated species of Cucurbita,
while in the latter system it may be found growing on plots or in small groups, generally
combined with other vegetables. Where it is grown commercially, it is generally found as
the sole crop, occupying areas of varying size (Lira-Saade and Montes-Hernández, 1992).
Although C. pepo is grown in several different commercial cropping systems, there may
be as much grown in home gardens as grown commercially for sale in local or distant
markets, and this may be true even in countries such as the United States where it is
frequently grown in larger scale production systems (National Gardening Association,
2009). C. pepo is the most important Cucurbita species economically. In North America