Cucurbita pepo

Cucurbita pepo — the versatile squash species behind courgettes, marrows, summer squash and many pumpkins, and one of the oldest crops of the Americas. Central to our gourds and squash range.

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  • Summer Squash Yellowfin F1 seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – organic annual vegetable Summer Squash Yellowfin F1 (Cucurbita pepo) – organic annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Summer Squash Seeds Organic Cucurbita Pepo Annual Yellowfin F1
    53,00 kr

    Organic Yellowfin F1 summer squash for gardens summer squash seeds for Yellowfin F1 offer an annual vegetable variety valued for its uniform, golden-yellow fruits and tidy, sturdy plant habit. This is an organic option for...
  • Climbing Squash Black Forest F1 seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual climber Climbing Squash Black Forest F1 (Cucurbita pepo) – annual climber seeds from SeedsChoice
    Climbing Squash Seeds Black Forest F1 Cucurbita Pepo Annual
    53,00 kr

    Climbing courgette seeds for space saving gardens climbing squash seeds ‘Black Forest F1’ are an annual vegetable seed variety bred for a vining, vertical habit that helps keep beds and borders tidy. This trellis courgette...
  • Gold Rush F1 Zucchini seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual Gold Rush F1 Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo) – annual seeds from SeedsChoice
    Gold Rush F1 Zucchini Seeds Cucurbita Pepo Annual
    38,00 kr

    Gold Rush F1 zucchini for bright harvests gold rush f1 zucchini seeds are an annual vegetable choice for gardeners who want long, slender fruits in a clear golden-yellow color. This F1 hybrid courgette type is...
  • Courgette Partenon F1 seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – organic annual vegetable Courgette Partenon F1 (Cucurbita pepo) – organic annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Courgette Partenon F1 Seeds Organic Cucurbita Pepo Annual
    53,00 kr

    Organic courgette for reliable summer squash harvests courgette partenon f1 seeds are an organic, annual vegetable choice for gardeners who want a dependable courgette with a tidy, non vining courgette variety habit. This F1 hybrid...
  • Zucchino Striato D'italia Zucchini seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual Zucchino Striato D'italia Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo) – annual seeds from SeedsChoice
    Zucchino Striato D'italia Seeds Cucurbita Pepo Annual Zucchini
    38,00 kr

    Striped Italian zucchini with classic elongated fruits zucchino striato d'italia seeds are a popular choice for vegetable gardens, valued for their attractive, long cylindrical zucchini with green skin and lighter striping. This annual zucchini is...
  • Mini Squash Patio Star F1 seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable Mini Squash Patio Star F1 (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Mini Squash Seeds Patio Star F1 Cucurbita Pepo Annual
    46,00 kr

    Mini squash variety for patios and balconies Mini squash seeds Patio Star F1 are a compact, annual vegetable variety bred for small-space growing. This patio type is well suited to pots, tubs, and other containers,...
  • Patisson Squash Colour Mix seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable Patisson Squash Colour Mix (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    13%
    Patisson Squash Seeds Cucurbita Pepo Annual Colour Mix
    33,00 kr38,00 kr

    Patisson colour mix for summer harvest patisson squash seeds offer a lively colour mix of scallop-shaped summer squash for the vegetable garden. This pattypan squash colour mix includes fruits in yellow, orange, green, and white,...
  • Courgette Tondo Nizza seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable Courgette Tondo Nizza (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Courgette Tondo Nizza Seeds Cucurbita Pepo Annual Variety
    38,00 kr

    Round courgette variety for compact garden spaces courgette tondo nizza seeds produce a classic, round-fruited courgette valued for its neat shape and attractive appearance in the vegetable garden. This is an annual, bush type courgette...
  • Spaghetti Squash seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable Spaghetti Squash (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Spaghetti Squash Seeds Cucurbita Pepo Annual Variety Vegetable Spaghetti
    38,00 kr

    Spaghetti squash for distinctive kitchen harvests spaghetti squash seeds are a popular choice for gardeners who want a distinctive winter squash with stringy flesh that separates into spaghetti-like strands after cooking. This annual vining type...
  • Pumpkin Baby Boo Ornamental seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable Pumpkin Baby Boo Ornamental (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Pumpkin Baby Boo Seeds Cucurbita Pepo Annual Ornamental Variety
    38,00 kr

    Mini white pumpkins for seasonal decorating displays pumpkin baby boo seeds produce a compact, creamy-white ornamental pumpkin that stands out in autumn arrangements. This annual vining pumpkin variety forms small fruits with a smooth, pale...
  • Summer Squash Dunja F1 seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – organic annual vegetable Summer Squash Dunja F1 (Cucurbita pepo) – organic annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Summer Squash Dunja F1 Seeds Organic Cucurbita Pepo Annual
    53,00 kr

    Organic F1 summer squash with open habit summer squash dunja f1 seeds are an organic vegetable choice for gardeners looking for a reliable bush courgette variety with a neat, open plant structure. This annual type...
  • Summer Squash Black Beauty seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable Summer Squash Black Beauty (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Summer Squash Black Beauty Seeds Cucurbita Pepo Annual
    38,00 kr

    Classic dark green summer squash for gardens summer squash black beauty seeds are a popular choice for gardeners who want a reliable, non-vining summer squash with a tidy, bush-style habit. This dark green zucchini variety...
  • Black Forest F1 Courgette Climbing seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual climber Black Forest F1 Courgette Climbing (Cucurbita pepo) – annual climber seeds from SeedsChoice
    Black Forest F1 Courgette Seeds Cucurbita Pepo Annual Climbing
    53,00 kr

    Climbing courgette for compact garden spaces black forest f1 courgette seeds are a vigorous, annual vegetable variety selected for vertical growth and space-saving gardens. This is a climbing courgette F1 hybrid that can be guided...
  • Climbing Courgette Ola Escaladora seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – organic annual climber Climbing Courgette Ola Escaladora (Cucurbita pepo) – organic annual climber seeds from SeedsChoice
    Climbing Courgette Seeds Organic Ola Escaladora Cucurbita Pepo Annual
    53,00 kr

    Organic climbing courgette seeds for vertical gardens climbing courgette seeds ‘Ola Escaladora’ are an organic, annual vegetable choice for gardeners who want a productive courgette that grows upward rather than sprawling. This dark green courgette...
  • Patisson Colour Scallopini seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual mix Patisson Colour Scallopini (Cucurbita pepo) – annual mix seeds from SeedsChoice
    Patisson Seeds Cucurbita Pepo Colour Mix Annual Scallopini
    38,00 kr

    Patisson colour mix for decorative summer harvests Patisson seeds produce an annual scallopini-type squash with a striking mix of fruit colours, including yellow, orange, green, and white. This ornamental squash colour mix also fits well...
  • Ornamental Gourd Large Small Fruits seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual mix Ornamental Gourd Large Small Fruits (Cucurbita pepo) – annual mix seeds from SeedsChoice
    Ornamental Gourd Seeds Cucurbita Pepo Annual Mix Large Small Fruits
    34,00 kr

    Ornamental gourd mix for seasonal decoration ornamental gourd seeds offer a colourful, varied selection of decorative fruits in a single annual mix. This decorative gourd seed mix is valued for its playful shapes and mixed...
  • Zucchini Diamant F1 seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual Zucchini Diamant F1 (Cucurbita pepo) – annual seeds from SeedsChoice
    Zucchini Seeds Diamant F1 Cucurbita Pepo Annual Variety
    38,00 kr

    Diamant F1 zucchini for compact garden spaces Zucchini seeds Diamant F1 are a reliable choice for gardeners looking for a productive, non-trailing plant with a tidy, bushy habit. This dark green zucchini variety produces glossy...
  • Halloween Pumpkin Jack O Lantern seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable Halloween Pumpkin Jack O Lantern (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Halloween Pumpkin Seeds Jack O Lantern Cucurbita Pepo Annual
    38,00 kr

    Classic Halloween pumpkin for carving lanterns halloween pumpkin seeds are a popular choice for growing a traditional Jack O’Lantern style pumpkin for seasonal decorating. This carving pumpkin variety is known for producing fruits suited to...
  • Sweet Dumpling Winter Squash seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable Sweet Dumpling Winter Squash (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Sweet Dumpling Winter Squash Seeds Cucurbita Pepo Annual
    38,00 kr

    Sweet Dumpling winter squash for garden displays sweet dumpling winter squash seeds produce a compact winter squash variety with small, attractively patterned fruits that suit both kitchen use and seasonal decorating. This annual vegetable is...
  • Black Beauty Zucchini Summersquash seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual Black Beauty Zucchini Summersquash (Cucurbita pepo) – annual seeds from SeedsChoice
    Black Beauty Zucchini Seeds Cucurbita Pepo Annual Summersquash
    34,00 kr

    Classic dark green zucchini for sunny gardens black beauty zucchini seeds are a popular choice for gardeners who want a reliable summer squash with a compact, non-vining habit. This bush zucchini variety is valued for...

Cucurbita pepo — courgettes, marrows and pumpkins

Cucurbita pepo is one of the most versatile species in the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), covering courgettes, summer squash, marrows, many pumpkins and ornamental gourds. It runs right through our gourds and squash range, especially the summer squash and courgettes.

History & origin

Cucurbita pepo is one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world. It was domesticated in what is now Mexico and the southern United States around 10,000 years ago — older than maize in the region — making squash one of the founding crops of the Americas. Indigenous peoples grew it as one of the “Three Sisters” alongside beans and corn, valuing both the flesh and the protein-rich seeds. After 1492 it spread quickly around the world.

The name comes from Cucurbita, the Latin for gourd, and pepo, from a Greek word for a large, ripe melon.

Botanical characteristics

A vigorous annual, the species ranges from compact bush courgettes to sprawling vines, all bearing large yellow flowers (themselves edible) followed by fruit of astonishing variety. Soft-skinned types — courgettes, patty pans, marrows — are eaten young; firmer pepo pumpkins and acorn squash store for a while. It overlaps closely with its relatives Cucurbita maxima and Cucurbita moschata, the other main squash species.

Growing Cucurbita pepo from seed

These are hungry, thirsty, frost-tender plants. Sow after the last frost into rich soil, or start in pots a few weeks early, and water deeply at the roots since wet leaves invite mildew. Pick courgettes small and often to keep them coming; let pumpkins ripen hard before the first frost. Our vegetable sowing calendar and soil guide set you up for a heavy crop.

Ready to grow squash? Browse the varieties or learn the basics first.

Related categories: Courgette · Summer Squash · Pumpkin · Gourds & Squash · Winter Squash

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Cucurbita pepo?
A squash species covering courgettes, summer squash, marrows and many pumpkins and gourds.

Where does it originate?
From Mexico and the southern United States, domesticated around 10,000 years ago.

What does the name mean?
Cucurbita is Latin for gourd and pepo comes from a Greek word for a large, ripe melon.

How is it different from other squash?
Pepo gives most of the soft summer types; maxima and moschata give the winter storers.

How do I grow it?
Sow after frost into rich soil, water deeply at the roots, and pick courgettes small and often.