| Botanical name | Cucurbita pepo var. pepo |
|---|---|
| Plant Care |  Deciduous Deciduous – Sheds Its Leaves Annually  Full Sun Full Sun – Prefers 6 or more hours of sun per day.  Frost Hardy Frost Hardy – Can Handle frost without damage.  Moderate Watering Moderate Watering – Requires Regular Watering.  Pruning Required Pruning Required – Needs to be Pruned.  Non Indigenous Non Indigenous – Exotic to South Africa. |
| Categories | |
| Common name(s) | Gem squash |
| Origin | |
| Planting instructions | Sow five to six seeds per basin; thin out to three plants per station. Gem squash can be trained onto a trellis, with seeds planted 1m apart. |
| Maintenance | Water well during dry weather and feed with liquid fertilizer every 10 days once the fruits start to swell. |
| Soil conditions | Soil should be rich and well drained. |
| Uses | Dehusked seeds are a delicious snack and can be added to bread, biscuits, stuffings and stir-fries, and the pulp is a great ingredient in roasts, fritters and pies. The flowers are also edible and can be added to dishes as a flavouring. |
| Interesting planting ideas | Plant near mealies, beans and radishes. also plant garlic and chives near them, this helps with mildew. |
| Interesting info | Gem squash is low in Saturated Fat, Sodium and Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Protein, Vitamin A, Thiamin, Niacin, Phosphorus and Copper, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Magnesium, Potassium and Manganese. |
| Common pests and diseases | Pumpkin fly, aphids. Mildew. |
| Yield | Five plants should yield enough squash for a family of five. |
Cucurbita pepo var. pepo (Gem squash)
- Botanical name: Cucurbita pepo var. pepo
- Common name(s): Gem squash
- Categories: Fruits and Vegetables
Plant description:
Gem squash is a variety of summer squash. It is commonly served as a vegetable in South Africa, often boiled or baked.
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Synonym: –
Botanical Pronunciation: koo-KER-bih-ta PEP-oh var. PEP-oh
Cucurbita pepo var. pepo requirements and features
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Moderate Maintenance
Requires moderate maintenance.
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