Vegetable Crops–PLSC 451/551Lesson 18, Cucumber, Squash

Instructor:Stephen L. LoveAberdeen R & E Center1693 S 2700 WAberdeen, ID 83210Phone: 397-4181 Fax: 397-4311Email: slove@uidaho.edu

What do you get when you divide the circumference of a pumpkin by its radius?

What do you get when you divide the circumference of a pumpkin by its radius?

Pumpkin Pi

Cucurbits -General Information

Taxanomically diverse group

Family consists of 96 genera, 750 species

Widely divergent regions of origin, mostly tropical

Most have vining or climbing growth habit

Crop species are grown for fruits

Cucurbits -General Information

Most are insect pollinatedFlowering habit unique, with most

Monoecious – unisex flowers on same plantAndromonoecious – perfect and staminate flowers on same plant

Deep rooted, withstand drought but not moisture stress

Most are day-neutral, fruiting response associated with vine mass

Cucurbits -General Information

Most are insect pollinatedFlowering habit unique, with most

Monoecious – unisex flowers on same plantAndromonoecious – perfect and staminate flowers on same plant

Deep rooted, withstand drought but not moisture stress

Most are day-neutral, fruiting response associated with vine mass

Cucurbits -General Information

Most are insect pollinatedFlowering habit unique, with most

Monoecious – unisex flowers on same plantAndromonoecious – perfect and staminate flowers on same plant

Deep rooted, withstand drought but not moisture stress

Most are day-neutral, fruiting response associated with vine mass

Cucurbits -General Information

Most are insect pollinatedFlowering habit unique, with most

Monoecious – unisex flowers on same plantAndromonoecious – perfect and staminate flowers on same plant

Deep rooted, withstand drought but not moisture stress

Most are day-neutral, fruiting response associated with vine mass

Cucurbits - General Information

Harvested immature or mature

Short-term storage except for some squashes

Most fruits subject to cold injury in storage

Mostly marketed fresh

Cucurbits - General Information

Common Diseases

Mosaic viruses

Fungal fruit rots

Common Insect Pests

Aphids

Squash bugs

Cucumber

Cucumber

Taxonomy

DicotyledonFamily: CucurbitaceaeGenus and species: Cucumis sativa or anguiraRelated species: watermelon, luffa, gourds,

chayote

Cucumber

Domestication

Originated in India

Cultivated there for over 3,000 years

Grown by ancient Greeks and Romans

Brought to North America by Columbus

Cultivated by native Americans in 1500s

Gherkin (C. anguira) introduced from Africa

Cucumber

BotanyDomesticated types are monoecious or

gynoeciousMale flowers outnumber female flowersFlower type influenced by photoperiod -

long days promote staminate floweringPollination by bees – necessary for fruit setEthephon promotes pistillate flowers

Cucumber and Gherkin

Cucumber

Varieties

Two major types in the USSlicers

White-spined, long, slow seed maturation, dark green

Cucumber

VarietiesTwo major types in the US

PicklersBlack-spined,

short, rapid seed maturation, light green or whitish

Cucumber

Varieties

Middle Eastern Type

Beit Alpha

Cucumber

Varieties

Chinese Types

Cucumber

Varieties

Japanese and Korean Types

Cucumber

Varieties

Indian Types

Armenian cucumber – same species as cantaloupe

Cucumber

Consumer use

Versatile

Consumed fresh in salads, cooked dishes

Processed into pickles, relishes

Important source of vitamin B, vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and potassium

Cucumber

Production/Harvest PrinciplesNeeds consistent harvest to maintain productionHarvest

Every other dayEarly in the morning when turgidPrior to seed developmentSize specification for picklers

Cucumber

Harvest and handling

Critically important to avoid harvest injury

Remove field heat, cool to 50 degrees (hydro or room cooling)

Cucumber

Storage

Store at 50-55° degrees, 95% RH

Susceptible to chilling injury - <50°

Susceptible to yellowing - >65°

Maximum storage period 1-2 weeks

Susceptible to ethylene injury

Cucumber

Sophisticated Production Systems

Open field for machine harvest

Bed production for fresh market

Trellis systems

Tunnels

Greenhouse and controlled environment

Hydroponic systems

Cucumber

Open field, large-scale, machine harvest

Intensive traditional or organic

Restricted to picklers

Gynoecious varieties

Reduced labor

Reduced yield

Flat, smooth field

Cucumber

Beds, medium to large-scale, hand harvest

Intensive modern production

Slicers and picklers

Machine-assist harvest

Raised beds for drainage

Cucumber

Trellised, small scale, hand harvest

Intensive-modern, garden market, or subsistence

Slicers/fresh market

Labor intensive

Reduced land needs

Cucumber

Tunnels (modified trellis)

Common in Asia

Intensive small-scale

Fresh market types

Labor intensive

Reduced land needs

Cucumber

Greenhouse (controlled)

Common worldwide

Often for export

Needs high price return

Parthenocarpic varieties

Diligent pest control

Cucumber

Hydroponic

Controlled environment

Very intensive/expensive

Amenable to organic systems

Extended production

Requires diligence

Requires unique knowledge

Squash and Pumpkin

Botany

Cultivated species:

C. pepo – summer and winter, pumpkins

C. maxima – winter squash, pumpkins

C. moschata – winter squash

C. argyrosperma (mixta) – winter squash

C. pepo

Summer squash/pumpkins-Zucchini-Jack o’ lantern pumpkins

C. moschata

Winter squash-Butternut-Cushaw

C. maxima

Winter squash/pumpkins-Hubbard-Buttercup-Turban-Giant pumpkins

C. mixta

Winter squash/pumpkins-Jack-be-LittleWhite pumpkinsBlue pumpkinsSeed pumpkins

Squash and Pumpkin

Genetics and breeding

Insect pollinated (cross), bred as selfed crop

Domesticated species closely related

Can be crossed:

C. pepo x C. maxima

C. moschata x C. maxima

Cannot be crossed:

C. pepo x C. moschata

(C. mixta rarely used in breeding, difficult)

Squash and Pumpkin

Origin and Domestication

Native of North, Central, and South America

C. pepo cultivated in Mexico 8000 BC

Evidence of cultivation of other species throughout Central and South America back to 3000 BC

Distributed throughout the world by European explorers

Squash and Pumpkin

Use and importanceFresh use:

Boiled or bakedSeeds used for consumption or oil

Processed:Canned for use in pies

Important source of carbohydrates, vitamin C, vitamin A, and certain minerals

Pumpkin Seed

Pumpkin and Squash

World production systems

Large-scale production (limited)

Pumpkins for processing

Pumpkins for seed (oil, consumption)

Market garden production (very common)

Organic production (especially summer squash)

Subsistence production (Meso-America)

Other Squash-like Crops

FigLeaf GourdCucurbita ficifolia

Short-lived perennial, cold tolerantFruit 6-20 in long, green with white stripesDry fibrous flesh converted to alcohol or sugar

added to make a dessert foodStores for up to a year without refrigerationCultivated in Mexico and SA highlands

Other Squash-like Crops

Chayote

Sechium edule

Short-day perennial vine

Native to Central America

Used by the Aztec culture

Fruit eaten boiled or pickled

Secondary use of roots as a source of starch

Grown in Meso-America, exported to US, Europe

Other Squash-like Crops

Loofah Gourd (Luffa)Luffa aegyptiaca (smooth)Luffa acutangula (angular)

Annual climbing vineIndigenous to tropical AsiaAngular used as a vegetable, mostly boiledSmooth dried and used as “vegetable sponge”Market garden and subsistence production worldwide

Other Squash-like Crops

Bitter gourd

Momordica charantia

Indigenous to tropical India

Perennial grown as annual

Ridged, warty fruit, 3-10 inches long

Immature fruit eaten , extremely bitter when mature

Eaten fresh, more commonly cooked with other foods

Market garden production in India, Nepal, Aisa

Other Squash-like Crops

Chinese Winter Melon

Benincasa hispida

Native to the Indo-Malayan region

Vining annual plant

Large, 10-40 inch long, light green fruit

Fruit used in soups or candied

Mature fruits store for up to a year

Widely grown in east and south Asia

Other Squash-like Crops

Bottle GourdLagenaria siceraria

Annual plant, tropical adaptationThought to have originated in AfricaAncient and common use in tropics (inc. Am.)Variable in shape, size, colorImmature fruit used like summer squashDried, mature fruit used as containers, ornamentsGrown worldwide, important in the tropics