Winter squash is a summer-growing annual vegetable, representing several species within the genus Cucurbita

Cucurbita

Cucurbita is a genus in the gourd family Cucurbitaceae first cultivated in Mesoamerica and now used in many parts of the world. It includes species grown for their fruit and edible seeds , as well as some species grown only as gourds...

. It differs from summer squash

Summer Squash

Summer squash are a subset of squashes that are harvested when immature . All summer squashes are the fruits of the species Cucurbita pepo , but they are considered vegetables in terms of culinary use...

 in that it is harvested and eaten in the mature fruit stage, when the seeds within have matured fully and the skin has hardened into a tough rind. At this stage, most varieties of this fruit can be stored for use during the winter. It is generally cooked before eating.

In Australia, specific cultivars of squash that seem to have many features of the winter squash, except having distinctive dark green exterior and bright orange interior, are called pumpkins and sold and used as pumpkins.

Planting

Because squash is a frost-tender vegetable, the seeds do not germinate in cold soil. Most squash seed require a minimum soil temperature of 15 °C to germinate. They are also easily destroyed by frost, thus they are planted after the soil is thoroughly warmed and all sign of frost has passed.

Maintenance

Winter squash can be harvested whenever the fruits have turned a deep, solid color and the skin is hard. Most of the crop is harvested in September or October (Northern Hemisphere), before heavy frosts hit the planting area. When cutting squash from the vine, two inches of stem should remain attached if possible. Cuts and bruises should be avoided when handling. Fruits that are not fully mature, have been injured, have had their stems knocked off, or have been subjected to heavy frost do not keep and should be used as soon as possible or be composted (watch for seedlings in the compost).

Nutritional value

Winter squash is a low-calorie, good source of complex vegetable carbohydrates and dietary fiber

Dietary fiber

Dietary fiber, dietary fibre, or sometimes roughage is the indigestible portion of plant foods having two main components:* soluble fiber that is readily fermented in the colon into gases and physiologically active byproducts, and* insoluble fiber that is metabolically inert, absorbing water as it...

.

It is an excellent source of vitamin A, a great source of vitamin C, potassium

Potassium

Potassium is the chemical element with the symbol K and atomic number 19. Elemental potassium is a soft silvery-white alkali metal that oxidizes rapidly in air and is very reactive with water, generating sufficient heat to ignite the hydrogen emitted in the reaction.Potassium and sodium are...

, dietary fiber and manganese, and a good source of folate, omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin B₁ (thiamin), copper, tryptophan, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin B₃ (niacin) and vitamin B₅ (pantothenic acid).

It is also a source of niacin

Niacin

"Niacin" redirects here. For the neo-fusion band, see Niacin .Niacin is an organic compound with the formula and, depending on the definition used, one of the forty to eighty essential human nutrients.Niacin is one of five vitamins associated with a pandemic deficiency disease: niacin deficiency...

, iron

Iron

Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...

 and beta carotene. Usually, the darker the skin is, the higher the beta carotene content.

Subspecies, cultivars and varieties

Cucurbita maxima

Cucurbita maxima

Cucurbita maxima, one of at least five species of cultivated squash, is one of the most diverse domesticated species, perhaps with more cultivated forms than any other crop. This species originated in South America from the wild C. maxima ssp. andreana over 4000 years ago...

• Ambercup squash
• Arikara squash
  Cucurbita maxima
  Cucurbita maxima, one of at least five species of cultivated squash, is one of the most diverse domesticated species, perhaps with more cultivated forms than any other crop. This species originated in South America from the wild C. maxima ssp. andreana over 4000 years ago...
  
  
• Atlantic Giant
  Atlantic Giant
  Atlantic Giant is the common name for a pumpkin variety bred publicly to produce huge fruit. More precisely, it refers to the round phenotypes of the giant squash variety of the species Cucurbita maxima, bred from simple Hubbard squash material....
  
  
• Banana squash (also called Pink Banana squash)
• Buttercup squash
  Cucurbita maxima
  Cucurbita maxima, one of at least five species of cultivated squash, is one of the most diverse domesticated species, perhaps with more cultivated forms than any other crop. This species originated in South America from the wild C. maxima ssp. andreana over 4000 years ago...
  
  
• Georgia candy roaster
  Cucurbita maxima
  Cucurbita maxima, one of at least five species of cultivated squash, is one of the most diverse domesticated species, perhaps with more cultivated forms than any other crop. This species originated in South America from the wild C. maxima ssp. andreana over 4000 years ago...
  
  
• Hubbard squash
  Cucurbita maxima
  Cucurbita maxima, one of at least five species of cultivated squash, is one of the most diverse domesticated species, perhaps with more cultivated forms than any other crop. This species originated in South America from the wild C. maxima ssp. andreana over 4000 years ago...
  
  
• Jarrahdale pumpkin
  Cucurbita maxima
  Cucurbita maxima, one of at least five species of cultivated squash, is one of the most diverse domesticated species, perhaps with more cultivated forms than any other crop. This species originated in South America from the wild C. maxima ssp. andreana over 4000 years ago...
  
  
• Kabocha
  Kabocha
  Kabocha is a Japanese variety of winter squash. The word kabocha has come to mean a general type of winter squash to many English-speaking growers and buyers. In some cultures it is revered as an aphrodisiac....
  
  
• Lakota squash
• Mooregold squash
• Red kuri squash
  Red kuri squash
  Red kuri squash is thick-skinned orange colored winter squash that has the appearance of a small pumpkin without the ridges. Inside the hard outer skin there is a firm flesh that provides a very delicate and mellow chestnut-like flavor. Red kuri squash is a cultivated variety of the species...
  
   (also called "Hokkaido squash," "orange Hokkaido squash," or "baby red Hubbard squash")http://www.theworldwidegourmet.com/vegetables/squash/hokkaido.htm
• Rouge vif d'Estampes (also spelled Rouge vif d'Etamps)
• Turban squash
  Cucurbita maxima
  Cucurbita maxima, one of at least five species of cultivated squash, is one of the most diverse domesticated species, perhaps with more cultivated forms than any other crop. This species originated in South America from the wild C. maxima ssp. andreana over 4000 years ago...
  
  

Cucurbita mixta

Cucurbita mixta

Cucurbita mixta aka pipian is a species of squash, sometimes known as the cushaw pumpkin. C. mixta is one of the common varieties of pumpkin cultivated in the United States. The plant's adaptation to warm climates and resistance to squash borers make it very competitive in the agricultural industry...

• Cushaw squash

Cucurbita moschata

Cucurbita moschata

Cucurbita moschata is a species originating in either Central America or northern South America. It includes varieties of squash and pumpkin. C. moschata varieties are generally more tolerant of hot, humid weather than C. maxima or C. pepo. They also generally display a greater...

• Butternut squash
  Butternut squash
  Butternut squash , also known in Australia and New Zealand as butternut pumpkin, is a type of winter squash. It has a sweet, nutty taste similar to that of a pumpkin. It has yellow skin and orange fleshy pulp. When ripe, it turns increasingly deep orange, and becomes sweeter and richer. It grows on...
  
  
• Long Island cheese squash
  Cucurbita moschata
  Cucurbita moschata is a species originating in either Central America or northern South America. It includes varieties of squash and pumpkin. C. moschata varieties are generally more tolerant of hot, humid weather than C. maxima or C. pepo. They also generally display a greater...
  
   (Cucurbita moschata)
• Fairytale pumpkin squash or Musquee de Provence

Cucurbita pepo

Cucurbita pepo

The species Cucurbita pepo is a cultivated plant of the genus Cucurbita. It includes varieties of squash, gourd, and pumpkin.*Acorn squash*Delicata squash*Dodi marrow, grown in South Asia*Gem squash*Heart of gold squash*Pattypan squash...

• Acorn squash
  Acorn squash
  Acorn squash , also called pepper squash or Des Moines squash, is a winter squash with distinctive longitudinal ridges and sweet, yellow-orange flesh...
  
  
• Carnival squash
• Delicata squash
  Cucurbita pepo
  The species Cucurbita pepo is a cultivated plant of the genus Cucurbita. It includes varieties of squash, gourd, and pumpkin.*Acorn squash*Delicata squash*Dodi marrow, grown in South Asia*Gem squash*Heart of gold squash*Pattypan squash...
  
   (also called Peanut squash)
• Gem squash
  Gem squash
  Gem squash is a variety of summer squash that was domesticated from two wild varieties; Cucurbita texana found in the southern and central United States and Cucurbita fraterna found in Mexico. The dark green spherical fruit, when fully ripe, is about the size of a softball...
  
  
• Heart of gold squash (Cucurbita pepo; a hybrid of acorn squash and sweet dumpling squash)
• Spaghetti squash
  Spaghetti squash
  The spaghetti squash is an oblong seed-bearing variety of winter squash. The fruit can range either from ivory to yellow or orange in color. The orange varieties have a higher carotene content. Its center contains many large seeds...
  
  
• Sweet dumpling squash (also called "dumpling squash"; Cucurbita pepo)

• Autumn cup squash
• Calabaza
  Calabaza
  Calabaza is a term that can be applied to a variety of gourds and melons grown throughout the world.-Etymology :The word calabaza is derived from the Persian term for melon . The French term "calabasse", and hence "calabash" is based on the older Spanish...
  
  
• Cushaw (also called "winter crookneck squash")
• Giraumon
• Gold nugget squash (also called "golden nugget squash")
• Marina di Chioggia
• Queensland blue pumpkin
• Sugar loaf squash

External links

• Sorting Cucurbita names