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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  • Ornamental Gourd Crown Of Thorns seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual Ornamental Gourd Crown Of Thorns (Cucurbita pepo) – annual seeds from SeedsChoice
    Ornamental Gourd Seeds Crown Of Thorns Cucurbita Pepo Annual
    $10.00

    Ornamental gourd seeds for striking seasonal displays ornamental gourd seeds ‘Crown Of Thorns’ produce distinctive, crown-shaped fruits in a lively mix of colours, making this variety a popular choice for autumn décor. This annual gourd...
  • Black Beauty Zucchini seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – organic annual Black Beauty Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo) – organic annual seeds from SeedsChoice
    Black Beauty Zucchini Seeds Organic Cucurbita Pepo Annual
    $10.00

    Organic Black Beauty zucchini for compact gardens black beauty zucchini seeds are a classic choice for gardeners who want dependable summer squash on a tidy, bush-type plant. This organic variety is known for its dark-skinned...
  • Round Zucchini F1 Mixed Colours seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual mix Round Zucchini F1 Mixed Colours (Cucurbita pepo) – annual mix seeds from SeedsChoice
    Round Zucchini Seeds Cucurbita Pepo F1 Mix Annual Mixed Colours
    $14.00

    Round F1 zucchini mix for mixed colours round zucchini seeds are a great choice for gardeners who want compact, globe-shaped fruits in a lively colour range. This round F1 zucchini mix brings together three distinct...
  • Spaghetti Squash seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable Spaghetti Squash (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Spaghetti Squash Vegetable Spaghetti Seeds Cucurbita Pepo Annual Variety
    $10.00

    Distinctive annual squash for vegetable spaghetti dishes Spaghetti squash seeds produce a distinctive annual squash valued for its light yellow, oblong fruits and versatile kitchen use. This is an intermediate, vigorous type that develops elongated...
  • Zucchini Di Nizza Summersquash seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual Zucchini Di Nizza Summersquash (Cucurbita pepo) – annual seeds from SeedsChoice
    Zucchini Di Nizza Seeds Cucurbita Pepo Annual Summersquash
    $10.00

    Round summer squash with compact bush habit zucchini di nizza seeds produce a distinctive round-fruited summer squash suited to vegetable gardens where space matters. This is a bush zucchini variety with a non vining squash...
  • Ornamental Gourd Autumn Decor seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual mix Ornamental Gourd Autumn Decor (Cucurbita pepo) – annual mix seeds from SeedsChoice
    Ornamental Gourd Seeds Cucurbita Pepo Annual Mix Autumn Decor
    $10.00

    Ornamental gourd mix for seasonal decoration Ornamental gourd seeds are an annual mix selected for producing many small decorative gourds in a wide range of shapes and surface textures. Expect a lively assortment of colours...
  • Ornamental Gourd Smallfruited seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual mix Ornamental Gourd Smallfruited (Cucurbita pepo) – annual mix seeds from SeedsChoice
    Ornamental Gourd Seeds Cucurbita Pepo Annual Mixture Smallfruited
    $9.00

    Small-fruited annual gourds for decorative displays ornamental gourd seeds offer a lively, small-fruited ornamental gourds mix with fantasy-like colours and varied shapes for seasonal decoration. This annual ornamental gourd seed mix develops into a vigorous,...
  • Pumpkin Jack O'lantern seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable Pumpkin Jack O'lantern (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Pumpkin Jack O'lantern Seeds Cucurbita Pepo Annual Variety
    $10.00

    Classic Halloween pumpkin for carving and display pumpkin jack o'lantern seeds produce a classic carving pumpkin variety valued for its traditional lantern shape and seasonal look. This annual vining vegetable is known for developing sizeable...
  • Spaghetti Squash seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable Spaghetti Squash (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Spaghetti Squash Seeds Cucurbita Pepo Annual Vegetable
    $10.00

    Spaghetti squash for reliable kitchen harvests spaghetti squash seeds produce an annual vining squash plant valued for its distinctive, stringy flesh that separates into spaghetti-like strands after cooking. This is a classic vegetable spaghetti squash...
  • Ornamental Gourd seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual mix Ornamental Gourd (Cucurbita pepo) – annual mix seeds from SeedsChoice
    Ornamental Gourd Seeds Cucurbita Pepo Annual Mix
    $10.00

    Ornamental gourd vines for seasonal decoration ornamental gourd seeds offer a colourful annual mix that produces a wide range of decorative fruits in different shapes and sizes. This ornamental gourd mix includes both small and...
  • Courgette Mix Early seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – vegetable Courgette Mix Early (Cucurbita pepo) – vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Courgette Seeds Mix Cucurbita Pepo Early Variety
    $10.00

    Courgette mix for early, reliable garden harvests Courgette seeds in a mix of three early types, selected for vigorous growth and a compact, bushy habit. This zucchini seed mix is a practical choice for gardeners...
  • Custard White Squash seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable Custard White Squash (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Custard White Squash Seeds Cucurbita Pepo Annual
    $9.00

    Custard White squash for compact garden beds custard white squash seeds produce a distinctive pattypan-type summer squash with a scalloped, “flying saucer” shape and a clean white skin. This annual vegetable is valued for its...
  • Jack O Lantern Pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – organic annual vegetable Jack O Lantern Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) – organic annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Jack O Lantern Pumpkin Seeds Organic Cucurbita Pepo Annual
    $10.00

    Organic pumpkin seeds for classic Halloween lanterns jack o lantern pumpkin seeds are an organic vegetable seed choice for gardeners who want a classic halloween pumpkin variety with the familiar round shape used for seasonal...
  • Zucchini Gold Rush F1 seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual Zucchini Gold Rush F1 (Cucurbita pepo) – annual seeds from SeedsChoice
    Zucchini Gold Rush F1 Seeds Cucurbita Pepo Annual
    $11.00

    Gold Rush F1 zucchini for bright gardens zucchini gold rush f1 seeds are a dependable choice for gardeners who want a vivid, yellow-fruited hybrid in the annual vegetable garden. This Gold Rush F1 courgette is...
  • Pumpkin Sweet Dumpling seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable Pumpkin Sweet Dumpling (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Pumpkin Sweet Dumpling Seeds Cucurbita Pepo Annual
    $10.00

    Sweet Dumpling pumpkin for decorative garden displays pumpkin sweet dumpling seeds produce a compact, light-colored squash with distinctive dark green striping, valued in specialty and ornamental plantings. This striped squash variety stands out on the...
  • Marrow Alberello Di Sarzana Bush seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – vegetable Marrow Alberello Di Sarzana Bush (Cucurbita pepo) – vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Marrow Seeds Alberello Di Sarzana Cucurbita Pepo Bush Variety
    $10.00

    Traditional Italian bush variety for home gardens Marrow seeds Alberello Di Sarzana are a traditional Italian zucchini type selected for a compact, bushy plant habit and reliable garden performance. This is a bush type zucchini...
  • Patisson Squash Custard White seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable Patisson Squash Custard White (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Patisson Squash Seeds Custard White Cucurbita Pepo Annual
    $10.00

    Custard White patisson squash for kitchen gardens patisson squash seeds produce the distinctive Custard White patisson, a classic summer squash with a decorative, scalloped “flying saucer” shape. This annual vegetable is valued for its smooth,...
  • Summer Squash Diamant F1 seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable Summer Squash Diamant F1 (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Summer Squash Diamant F1 Seeds Cucurbita Pepo Annual
    $10.00

    Dark green bush courgette for summer harvest summer squash diamant f1 seeds are a reliable choice for gardeners looking for a compact, non-trailing plant with a steady set of fruits through the season. This F1...
  • Early Summer Crookneck Squash seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable Early Summer Crookneck Squash (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Early Summer Crookneck Squash Seeds Cucurbita Pepo Annual
    $10.00

    Early summer crookneck squash for garden beds early summer crookneck squash seeds are a classic choice for anyone looking to grow a productive, non-running summer squash with distinctive curved-neck fruits. This annual vegetable, Cucurbita pepo,...

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.