Cucurbita moschata
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- koo-KER-bih-ta MOSS-kah-ta
- Description
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Butternut squash is a warm-season annual vegetable vine in the Cucurbitaceae (cucumber) family that trails along the ground or climbs up structures using tendrils. Cucurbita is Latin for gourd and moschata is Latin for musky.
Native to Central and South America, winter squash is an aggressive grower and prefers moderately moist soil with full access to sunlight.
It has yellow fruit-bearing flowers that are produced during the summer and fruits maturing late summer to fall. The fruits have a mild flavor and can be fried, baked, added to pasta, used in soups, and more. They provide at least 50% of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin A per 1/2 cup serving at maturity.
Butternut 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. Transplant it in late spring, early summer, or after the last frost.
Insects, diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Slugs, aphids, and beetles can be problems. Home gardens will likely want to stay away from vigorous commercial varieties like 'Polaris' that produce huge vines – these take up a lot of space, but in commercial production, they are helpful for weed management.
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, Herb and Mostly Native Pollinator Garden Vegetable Garden with Pollinator Plants in Mt. Pleasant
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Betternut 900'
1 1/2 to 2lb range for fruit - 'Butterfly'
Compact vine - 'Butterscotch'
Very sweet 1 1/2 to 2lb fruits - 'Honeynut'
Warmer/long season climates because longer days to harvest, not best for storage eat immediately - 'Metro'
Very productive in less than ideal conditions
- 'Betternut 900'
- 'Betternut 900', 'Butterfly', 'Butterscotch', 'Honeynut', 'Metro'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Betternut 900'
1 1/2 to 2lb range for fruit - 'Butterfly'
Compact vine - 'Butterscotch'
Very sweet 1 1/2 to 2lb fruits - 'Honeynut'
Warmer/long season climates because longer days to harvest, not best for storage eat immediately - 'Metro'
Very productive in less than ideal conditions
- 'Betternut 900'
- 'Betternut 900', 'Butterfly', 'Butterscotch', 'Honeynut', 'Metro'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cucurbita
- Species:
- moschata
- Family:
- Cucurbitaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and South America
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Colorful
- Easy to Grow
- Edible fruit
- Wildlife Food Source
- Climbing Method:
- Tendrils
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 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
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- 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
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 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:
- Blue
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Orange
- Variegated
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Long-lasting
- 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. Comes in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. Fruits and seeds are both edible.
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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
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Prickly
- Rough
- 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 that are often rough and prickly. Alternate with palmate lobing and venation. May have white splotches near the veins.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Dark green in color.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Vertical Spaces
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
