About
Cucurbita moschata 'Hunter' is a bush-type squash that yields six to seven small to medium-sized fruits per plant. The vines have a trailing growth habit and produce from late summer through autumn. The fruits are light brown on the exterior, with orange-gold flesh and a compact seed cavity.
About the genus
This genus consists of small, annual herbaceous plants that either climb or trail. Several species within this group are cultivated for their edible fruits and other applications. They originate from Central and South America. The flowers are typically solitary and star-shaped, exhibiting a golden-yellow hue. The leaves are characterized by their palmately lobed structure and are adorned with fine, prickly hairs.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H2
Plant details
- Plant type
- Annual Biennial
- Habit
- Trailing, Bushy
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 0.5-1 metres
- Spread
- 1-1.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 1 year
- Toxicity
- Humans/Pets: If crop is bitter, don't eat or feed to pets. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in a fertile, well-drained soil in full sun; sed germination requires a minimum temperature of 13⁰C and plants grow best at 18-21⁰C. Feed regularly with a high potassium fertiliser when the first fruits start to swell. See cucurbit cultivation for further advice
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to powdery mildews and grey moulds