The Cucurbitaceae family encompasses over 800 species of plants known collectively as gourds or cucurbits. These include cucumbers, melons, watermelons, pumpkins, squash, and many others.
What is the best planting method for cucurbits?
With most cucurbit species, planting seeds in a hill is the best method which allows for better drainage and warmer soil temperatures. To form a hill, mound soil in a low, broad hill about 8 to 10 inches tall.
Is broccoli a cucurbit?
The crucifers tend to be high in fiber, vitamin C, and calcium, along with many other nutrients. Many of the plants in this family are of a single species, B. oleracea, including broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, ornamental kale, cabbage, Brussel sprouts, and Chinese broccoli (gai lan).
Which vegetables are cucurbits?
Members of the cucumber family (cucurbits) that can be planted now and into April include summer squash, zucchini, winter squash, mirliton (South Louisiana), pumpkin, gourd, cucuzzi, watermelon, cantaloupe, cushaw, luffa and, of course, cucumber. All of these vegetables produce vines that run along the ground or climb.
Is Aubergine a cucurbit?
Eggplant | |
---|---|
Order: | Solanales |
Family: | Solanaceae |
Genus: | Solanum |
Species: | S. melongena |
Is watermelon a cucurbit?
The Cucurbitaceae, also called cucurbits or the gourd family, are a plant family consisting of about 965 species in around 95 genera, of which the most important to humans are: Cucurbita – squash, pumpkin, zucchini, some gourds. Lagenaria – calabash, and others that are inedible. Citrullus – watermelon (C.
Is pumpkin a cucurbit?
The cucurbits are a family of vining plants that includes cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, watermelons, melons, and gourds. All edible plants from this family are actually fruits, deriving from the ovary of a pollinated flower, even though we might call them a ‘vegetable. ‘ Most have separate male and female flowers.
Is pumpkin a gourd?
As for gourds, that term includes plants in both the genera Cucurbita (soft-skinned gourds) and Lagenaria (hard-skinned gourds), so a pumpkin is also technically a gourd. … So if it looks good in your fall cornucopia, it’s probably a gourd and if it tastes good at dinner or in a pie, it’s probably a squash.
Are cucurbits fruits?
Known as a pepo, the fruit in most species is a fleshy many-seeded berry with a tough rind, often attaining considerable size. The seeds are flattened and some, such as those produced by the Javan cucumber (Alsomitra macrocarpa), have beautiful wings to aid in dispersal.
Which fertilization is suitable for cucurbits?
Cucurbits require low nitrogen and high potassium and phosphorous for good fruit development. Add a complete fertilizer such as 4-8-5 or 6-10-10 or similar analysis at a rate of 1 to 2 tablespoons per hill prior to planting. Nitrogen is readily leached from light, sandy soils.
Is cucurbits Monoecious or dioecious?
Cucurbits are unisexual where male and female flowers are borne on the same plants. Therefore, they are referred to as monoecious.
Why are cucurbits not transplanted?
Cucumbers are almost always sown directly, like most cucurbits crops, hence they do not transplant well and transplanting costs would also be difficult to cover. … Two seeds are generally sown in one place. If seeds are sown too deep, the emergence will be delayed.
Is cucumber a nightshade?
Contrary to popular belief, cucumber is not a nightshade vegetable. Nightshade vegetables include a vegetable group belonging to the Solanaceae family and encompass a whole family of flowering plants. Cucumber belongs to the squash or gourd family called Cucurbitaceae (also called cucurbits).
Are tomatoes cucurbits?
This is especially true for tomatoes and cucurbits. Cucurbits are from the family Cucurbitaceae that includes squash, pumpkin, cucumber, gourd, watermelon and cantaloupe.
Is spinach a cruciferous?
These are the vegetables, also called brassica vegetables, whose four-petal flowers form the shape of a cross – cruciferous means “cross-bearing.” Cruciferous vegetables include Swiss chard, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, watercress, radish, rapini, arugula, spinach, turnip, kale, and bok choy.
What is a gourd vs pumpkin?
In laymen’s terms, the word pumpkin generally designates an orange squash that is edible and round, while gourds are usually smaller and produce hard-skinned, bitter fruits that are not palatable. … Gourds are cultivated primarily for decoration, household objects, and other common purposes.
Which type of plant is tomato?
Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) is an annual or short lived perennial pubescent herb and greyish green curled uneven pinnate leaves. The flowers are off white bearing fruits which are red or yellow in colour. It is a self pollinated crop.
Is Acorn squash a gourd?
In the Latin language, Cucurbita is the word for gourd. … Most pumpkins, acorn squash, summer squash and courgette (zucchini) belong to the C. pepo species. There are even some smaller varieties in this species that are referred to only as gourds.
Why is brinjal called eggplant?
Brinjal belongs to the family of Solanaceae, also commonly known as nightshades, and are cousins of potatoes, tomatoes and bell peppers. They hang from vines and some varieties actually look egg shaped– which is why the name “Eggplants”.
As nouns the difference between eggplant and cucumber is that eggplant is (north america) the plant solanum melongena while cucumber is a vine in the gourd family, cucumis sativus .
Where are eggplants native to?
Eggplant is believed to have originated in the Indian center of plant origins, which includes Assam and Burma. There are many entirely different names for it in ancient Sanskrit, Bengali, and Hindustani, indicating its antiquity in India.
Cucumber, melon, and watermelon are originally from the Old World (primarily Africa and Asia). Although they are in the same family (Cucurbitaceae) with the squashes, pumpkins, and gourds (mostly of the genus Cucurbita ), they are only distantly related. … Together, plants in this family are called cucurbits.
Is Mango a melon?
1. a round or oblong melon, occurring in many varieties, having a juicy, sweet, yellow, white, or green, edible flesh. 2. the plant, Cucumis melo reticulatus, of the gourd family, bearing this fruit.
What family is cucumber in?
The cucurbits, as they are called, number 750 species worldwide; most species are vines. The flowers vary from barely noticeable to large and conspicuous. The fruits range from small and dry to large and tasty; the latter include cucumbers, squash, and melons.
Is Kalabasa pumpkin or squash?
moschata became established in the Philippines and is a staple vegetable used in a variety of dishes. It is known in Filipino as kalabasa, or in Philippine English as “squash” or “pumpkin”.