Last edited on 2 Nov 2026. View history

Zambezi gem squash Zambezi Gem Squash

Cucurbita pepo

A variety of squash

How to sow Zambezi gem squash: Direct seed indoors or outdoors

Sun requirement for Zambezi gem squash: Plant in Full Sun

A small round squash about orange-sized, from a seed line from Allan Gibb of Pukerua Bay; old letters say it was named Gem Squash in error. Dry, rich and nutty, it is baked whole (pierce it first or it may burst) or halved and steamed or boiled. Once common across New Zealand, it grows well up a fence or trellis and can be eaten as a courgette when young.

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Zambezi gem squash facts

Lifespan

Annual living and reproducing in a single year or less

Growing Zambezi gem squash

  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

Plant Zambezi gem squash with

chives chives

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Ecological requirements

Data from the FAO EcoCrop database for Cucurbita pepo L.

Family / Taxonomy Magnoliopsida
Dilleniidae
Violales
Cucurbitaceae
Optimal temperature 17 - 30 °C
Absolute temperature 6 - 40 °C
Optimal rainfall 600 - 1500 mm/year
Absolute rainfall 300 - 2800 mm/year
Optimal soil pH 5.5 - 6.8
Absolute soil pH 4.5 - 8.3
Crop cycle 40 - 100 days
Max altitude 1000 m
Life form herb, vine
Life span annual
Habit climber/scrambler/scadent
Optimal soil depth medium (50-150 cm)
Optimal soil texture medium, organic
Optimal soil fertility moderate
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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