Last edited on 29 Nov 2025. View history

cucurbita maxima Cucurbita Maxima

Cucurbita maxima

A variety of squash

How to sow cucurbita maxima: Direct seed indoors or outdoors

Sun requirement for cucurbita maxima: Plant in Full Sun

Squash is a genus of herbaceous vines that have large edible orange flowers that mature into gourds or cucurbits. Squash are commonly divided into two main groups: summer and winter. Summer squash have shorter growing times, a bushy growth habit, tender skin, and are quite prolific. Common types include cucumbers, zucchini, and pattypan squash. Winter squash take longer to mature, have a more sprawling growth habit, and produce gourds with thicker skins that can be stored for a few months. Common winter squash are pumpkins, butternut squash, acorn, and delicata. Most squash transplant poorly. If starting from seed indoors, use peat pots that can be directly transplanted into the soil to reduce root disturbance. More growing information is available in individual species entries.

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Cucurbita maxima facts

Lifespan

Annual living and reproducing in a single year or less

Growing cucurbita maximas

  1. Sow seeds in pots 4 weeks before planting out
  2. Dig a pit and fill it with compost 2 weeks before planting out
  3. Harden off the seedlings 1 week before planting out
  4. Set or refill beer traps for slugs and snails at planting out every week
  5. Water deeply at the base 1 week after planting out every week
  6. Mulch around the plants 3 weeks after planting out
  7. Hand pollinate the female flowers 6 weeks after planting out
  8. Check leaves for powdery mildew 8 weeks after planting out every 2 weeks
  9. Lift fruit onto a tile or board 4 weeks before first harvest
  10. Pick fruit regularly at first harvest every week
  11. Pull out finished plants 8 weeks after first harvest

Varieties of cucurbita maxima

Image of kabocha

kabocha

Cucurbita maxima
Image of red kuri squash

red kuri squash

Cucurbita maxima
Image of turban squash

turban squash

Cucurbita maxima

Plant cucurbita maximas with

chives chives

Photos

Cucurbita maxima crops

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Ecological requirements

Data from the FAO EcoCrop database for Cucurbita maxima Duchesne

Family / Taxonomy Magnoliopsida
Dilleniidae
Violales
Cucurbitaceae
Optimal temperature 20 - 30 °C
Absolute temperature 9 - 38 °C
Optimal rainfall 600 - 1000 mm/year
Absolute rainfall 450 - 2700 mm/year
Optimal soil pH 5.5 - 7.5
Absolute soil pH 5.0 - 8.5
Crop cycle 80 - 140 days
Max altitude 2000 m
Life form vine
Life span annual
Habit climber/scrambler/scadent
Optimal soil depth deep (>>150 cm)
Optimal soil texture heavy, medium, light, organic
Optimal soil fertility high
Optimal soil drainage well (dry spells)
Optimal soil salinity low (<4 dS/m)
Photoperiod short day (<12 hours), neutral day (12-14 hours), long day (>14 hours)
Optimal light very bright

Licensed under CC-BY-4.0 .

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) ECOCROP, the crop ecological requirements database. Version 1. https://data.apps.fao.org/catalog/dataset/ecocrop. Accessed through the CGIAR Climate Action Data Hub, https://cgiar-climate-data-hub.github.io/catalog/ecocrop_1/.

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