Chapter 7. Cucurbit Production
Josh H. Freeman, Eugene J. McAvoy, Nathan S. Boyd, Mathews Paret, Qingren Wang, Christian F. Miller,
Johan Desaeger, Joseph W. Noling, and Xavier Martini
Botany and Planting
Angled luffa (silk squash) - Luffa acutangula
Bittermelon - (Chinese and Indian types) - Momordica charantia
Butternut squash - Cucurbita moschata
Cantaloupe - Cucumis melo
Chayote – Sechium edule
Chinese cucumber - Trichosanthes kirilowii
Cucumber - Cucumis sativus, Cucurbitaceae
Fuzzy melon (immature fruit) and Winter melon - Benincasa hispida
Long gourd (oopoh) - Lagenaria siceraria
Pumpkin (jack-o-lantern is C. pepo; some processing pumpkins are
C. maxima and C. moschata)
Smooth luffa - Luffa aegyptica (cylindrical)
Snake gourd - Trichosanthes cucumerina
Summer squash - Cucurbita pepo
Tropical pumpkin (calabaza) - Cucurbita moschata
Watermelon - Citrullus lanatus
Winter squash - Cucurbita maxima
Table 7.1. Planting information for cucurbits.
Planting dates Cucumber Cantaloupe Pumpkin Squash Watermelon
North Florida Feb - Apr; July - Aug Feb - Apr Early July Feb - Apr; Aug - Sept Feb - Apr
Central Florida Jan - Mar; Sept Jan - Mar Mid July Jan - Apr; Aug - Sept Jan - Mar
South Florida Sept - Feb Dec - Mar Early August Aug - Mar Dec - Mar
Planting information Bush Vining
Distance between rows (in) 48 - 60 60 - 72 60 - 108 36 - 48 60 - 108 60 - 108
Distance between plants (in) 6 - 12 20 - 36 36 - 60 12 - 24 36 - 60 24 - 48
Seeding depth (in) 0.5 - 0.75 0.5 - 1.0 1.5 - 2.0 1.0 - 1.5 1.5 - 2.0 1.5 - 2.0
Seed per acre (lb) 2 - 4 1 - 2 4 - 5 2 - 3 1 - 1.5 1 - 3
Days to maturity from seed 40 - 65 85 - 110 80 - 100 40 - 50 85 - 120 80 - 100
Days to maturity from transplant Not recommended 70 - 90 70 - 90 Not recommended 60 - 90
Plant populations (acre) 21,780 4,356 2,904 7-14,520 2,904 1,815
Cultivars
Table 7.2. Cultivars for cantaloupe.
Eastern Shipper Harper Type Calabaza (tropical pumpkin)
Aphrodite (H) Athena (H) Avatar (H) Caribbean Gold Agriset 9001 (vining type)
Ariel (H) Atlantis (H) Timeless Gold La Estrella (compact plant)
H=hybrid