Vegetable CropsPLSC 451551 Lesson 18 Cucumber Squash Instructor

Vegetable Crops–PLSC 451/551 Lesson 18, Cucumber, Squash Instructor: Stephen L. Love Aberdeen R & E Center 1693 S 2700 W Aberdeen, ID 83210 Phone: 397 -4181 Fax: 397 -4311 Email: 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 pollinated Flowering habit unique, with most Monoecious – unisex flowers on same plant Andromonoecious – 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 pollinated Flowering habit unique, with most Monoecious – unisex flowers on same plant Andromonoecious – 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 pollinated Flowering habit unique, with most Monoecious – unisex flowers on same plant Andromonoecious – 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 pollinated Flowering habit unique, with most Monoecious – unisex flowers on same plant Andromonoecious – 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 Dicotyledon Family: Cucurbitaceae Genus and species: Cucumis sativa or anguira Related 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 1500 s Gherkin (C. anguira) introduced from Africa

Cucumber Botany Domesticated types are monoecious or gynoecious Male flowers outnumber female flowers Flower type influenced by photoperiod long days promote staminate flowering Pollination by bees – necessary for fruit set Ethephon promotes pistillate flowers

Cucumber and Gherkin Cucumber production China Iran Turkey Russia United States Egypt Ukraine Spain Japan Indonesia 0 5 000 10 000 15 000 1, 000 metric tons 20 000 25 000 30 000

Cucumber Varieties Two major types in the US Slicers White-spined, long, slow seed maturation, dark green

Cucumber Varieties Two major types in the US Picklers Black-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 Principles Needs consistent harvest to maintain production Harvest Every other day Early in the morning when turgid Prior to seed development Size 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

Summer squash/pumpkins -Zucchini -Jack o’ lantern pumpkins C. pepo

Winter squash -Butternut -Cushaw C. moschata

Winter squash/pumpkins -Hubbard -Buttercup -Turban -Giant pumpkins C. maxima

Winter squash/pumpkins -Jack-be-Little White pumpkins Blue pumpkins Seed pumpkins C. mixta

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 importance Fresh use: Boiled or baked Seeds 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 Fig. Leaf Gourd Cucurbita ficifolia Short-lived perennial, cold tolerant Fruit 6 -20 in long, green with white stripes Dry fibrous flesh converted to alcohol or sugar added to make a dessert food Stores for up to a year without refrigeration Cultivated 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 vine Indigenous to tropical Asia Angular used as a vegetable, mostly boiled Smooth 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 Gourd Lagenaria siceraria Annual plant, tropical adaptation Thought to have originated in Africa Ancient and common use in tropics (inc. Am. ) Variable in shape, size, color Immature fruit used like summer squash Dried, mature fruit used as containers, ornaments Grown worldwide, important in the tropics