The Cucurbits

Pumpkins, squash, zucchini, cucumbers and melons all belong to the same plant family. Collectively they’re called ‘cucurbits’ and they share some key features, such as having separate male and female flowers on the same plant. The male flowers appear first and then the females. It’s exciting to watch the small fruit form below the petals of female flowers once pollination has occurred.

Pumpkins and squash

Pumpkins and squash need a good three to four months of warm weather to reach maturity, hence the need to plant as soon as the soil has warmed to 16℃. Seeds can be sown directly into the ground or started off in small pots in a greenhouse. Although some have been bred to be more bush-like, pumpkin and squash are essentially vines, and most need space to ramble.

If you don’t have much ground space you can give them a sturdy support to clamber over on. Choosing hybrid seed or seedlings gives the best chance of success-fully growing something delicious. Garden varieties are selected for strong disease resistant growth and high yields of high quality fruits. Such hybrid vigour offers a real ad-vantage, especially when space is limited.

Zucchini and scallopini

Zucchini (or courgettes) are the sprinters among cucurbits, growing quickly and continuously with phenomenal yields. Modern compact varieties are ideal for smaller gardens and can even be grown in large pots. Sow one or two seeds in October and another one or two in December. Sow seeds directly or purchase single potted seedlings. Work plenty of compost into the soil before planting or sowing. Regular watering and liquid feeding

with a high potassium fertiliser will promote vigorous growth and heavy fruiting. Zucchini taste best if picked when young and tender, and frequent picking will keep them cropping for longer.

Cucumbers

Plant a cucumber seedling every few weeks for non-stop summer and autumn supply. Where space is limited, cucumbers can be grown in large pots and trained upwards on a teepee, or fence. Like many climbing plants they come with their own inbuilt ‘plant ties’ called tendrils to help them climb. The trendril is straight at first but once it hits something it starts to curl like a spring, pulling the plant towards its support structure and holding it there. When picked young, cucumbers are super tender and sweet. A choice of top performing varieties is available in garden centres. Like their cousins zucchini and pumpkins, cucumbers give their best when provided with plenty of moisture, good air movement around their leaves, regular feeding and bees for pollination.