About
Cucurbita pepo 'Sunburst' is a distinctive patty pan squash known for its vibrant yellow, shiny skin and tender flesh that offers a nutty flavor. For optimal results in cooking, steam the squash to preserve its buttery texture that melts in your mouth.
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
- Neutral, Acid
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained, Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H2
Plant details
- Plant type
- Annual Biennial
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Spread
- 1-1.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 1 year
- Suggested uses
- Patio and container plants, Wildlife gardens
- 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 rich, fertile, well drained soil in full sun. Start indoors from April, sowing in individual pots with seeds on their side about 1.5cm deep. Harden off before transplanting outdoors to final growing position. Or sow direct April to July when the air temperature is above 18C. See cucurbit cultivation for further advice
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds or sowing seeds indoors for further advice
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to snails and slugs
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to grey moulds and powdery mildews