Cucurbita pepo (any summer squash variety) (Summer squash)

Botanical name

Cucurbita pepo (any summer squash variety)

Other names

Zucchini, Italian squash, Gem squash, Pattypan squash, Crookneck squash , Zephyr squash, Cousa squash, Tatuma Squash, Summer squash, Courgette

Genus

Cucurbita Cucurbita

Variety or Cultivar

C. pepo (any summer squash variety) _ If you don't know the variety name of your C. pepo (any summer squash variety), you can add this plant to your lists to get care advice.

C. pepo (any summer squash variety) are tender, bushy or trailing perennial plants widely cultivated as annual vegetable crops in many varieties. Yellow flowers in summer are followed by yellow or green, edible fruit in a variety of shapes.

Foliage

Deciduous

Habit

Irregular, Bushy, Trailing

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Colour

Flower

Yellow in Summer

Foliage

Green in Spring; Green in Summer; Green in Autumn

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How to care

Watch out for

Specific pests

Eelworm (stem and bulb) , Mice , Red spider mite (box and other) , Slugs , Snails

Specific diseases

Anthracnose diseases , Basal rot , Black rot , Mosaic virus , Foot and root rot , Grey mould , Powdery mildew , Sclerotinia diseases , Verticillium wilt

General care

Pruning

Harvest fruit when young before the skin and seeds get hard or woody.

Propagation

Plant seed in situ after last frost date. Distance between seeds depends upon the variety and method of growing. Start seed indoors approx. 3 weeks before the last frost date.

Propagation methods

Seed

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Monthly care advice

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Where to grow

Cucurbita pepo (any summer squash variety) (Summer squash) will reach a height of 0.9m and a spread of 0.9m after 1-2 years.

Suggested uses

Add to salads, Beds and borders, Flavouring food and drinks

Cultivation

Grow in deep, fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained, neutral to acid loam in full sun. Fertilise & water regularly. Do not allow to dry out. Most varieties need ample room to grow.

Soil type

Loamy, Sandy

Soil drainage

Moist but well-drained, Well-drained

Soil pH

Acid, Neutral

Light

Full Sun

Aspect

South, West

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.

Tender in frost (H3)

USDA zones

Zone 11, Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5, Zone 4, Zone 3, Zone 2

Defra's Risk register #1

Plant name

Cucurbita pepo (any summer squash variety) (Summer squash)

Common pest name

tomato thrips

Scientific pest name

Ceratothripoides brunneus

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

Thrips present in Africa; the Caribbean and parts of Asia; frequently intercepted in the UK. Can cause significant damage to tomatoes and other crops in countries where it is present. Europe wide PRA will consider its potential to establish and cause damage.

Defra's Risk register #2

Plant name

Cucurbita pepo (any summer squash variety) (Summer squash)

Common pest name

Oriental tomato thrips

Scientific pest name

Ceratothripoides claratris

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

Thrips present in parts of Asia and East Africa; where it can cause damage to solanaceous crops. Europe-wide PRA will consider its potential to establish and cause damage.

Defra's Risk register #3

Plant name

Cucurbita pepo (any summer squash variety) (Summer squash)

Common pest name

African cottom leafworm; Cotton leafworm; Egyptian cotton leafworm; Egyptian cotton worm; Mediterranean climbing cutworm; Meditteranea Brocade; Tobacco cutworm

Scientific pest name

Spodoptera littoralis

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

Regulated pest; frequently intercepted with occasional outbreaks which have been successfully eradicated in the UK.

About this section

Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.

Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here

Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.

Date updated: 7^th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/