Cucurbita pepo
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- koo-KER-bih-ta PEP-oh
- Description
-
Acorn squash is a sprawling vine with yellow fruit-bearing flowers. The fruits have a mild flavor and can be fried, baked, added to pasta, used in soups, and more. Native to North America, acorn squash is an aggressive grower and prefers moderately moist soil with full access to sunlight. To maximize growth add compost material to the surrounding soil in late fall. Mulching around the squash aids with retaining moisture and reducing competition.
Acorn squash is best suited for large landscapes, but performs well in vegetable gardens, on trellises, and as a cover for exposed soil. It is easily sown from seed, especially when soils are warm. Cucurbita pepo should be transplanted in late spring, early summer, or after the last frost.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Slugs, aphids, and beetles
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Vegetable No-Till Garden Vegetable Garden in Raised Beds in Concord
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- var. Cylindrica
Zucchini Squash
- var. Cylindrica
- var. Cylindrica
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- var. Cylindrica
Zucchini Squash
- var. Cylindrica
- var. Cylindrica
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cucurbita
- Species:
- pepo
- Family:
- Cucurbitaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Easy to Grow
- Edible fruit
- Wildlife Food Source
- Climbing Method:
- Tendrils
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Edible
- Ground Cover
- Vegetable
- Vine
- Warm Season Vegetable
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Coarse
- Appendage:
- Tendrils
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Orange
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Variegated
- White
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- A type of berry called a pepo that has a hard rind. Fruits may be long or round, large or small, smooth or warty– some have edible flesh and some are too hard or insipid to eat, though the seeds of all are edible. Has a harder, thicker stem compared to other species.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Funnel
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- 5-parted yellow flowers. Monecious, with separate male and female flowers on the same plant.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Prickly
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Peltate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Large, simple leaves. Alternate with palmate lobing and venation, often 3-7 lobes.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Dark green
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Vertical Spaces
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
