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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  • 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
    €6,95

    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...
  • Zucchino Striato D'italia Zucchini seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual Zucchino Striato D'italia Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo) – annual seeds from SeedsChoice
    20%
    Zucchino Striato D'italia Seeds Cucurbita Pepo Annual Zucchini
    €3,96€4,95

    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
    €5,95

    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,...
  • 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
    €6,95

    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...
  • 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
    €6,95

    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...
  • Ornamental Gourd Crown Of Thorns seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual Ornamental Gourd Crown Of Thorns (Cucurbita pepo) – annual seeds from SeedsChoice
    20%
    Ornamental Gourd Seeds Crown Of Thorns Cucurbita Pepo Annual
    €3,96€4,95

    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...
  • Gold Rush F1 Zucchini seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual Gold Rush F1 Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo) – annual seeds from SeedsChoice
    20%
    Gold Rush F1 Zucchini Seeds Cucurbita Pepo Annual
    €3,96€4,95

    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...
  • Pumpkin Baby Boo Ornamental seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable Pumpkin Baby Boo Ornamental (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    20%
    Pumpkin Baby Boo Seeds Cucurbita Pepo Annual Ornamental Variety
    €3,96€4,95

    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...
  • 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
    €6,95

    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
    20%
    Spaghetti Squash Vegetable Spaghetti Seeds Cucurbita Pepo Annual Variety
    €3,96€4,95

    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
    €4,95

    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...
  • 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
    €4,95

    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...
  • Patisson Squash Colour Mix seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable Patisson Squash Colour Mix (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Patisson Squash Seeds Cucurbita Pepo Annual Colour Mix
    €4,95

    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,...
  • Black Beauty Zucchini Summersquash seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual Black Beauty Zucchini Summersquash (Cucurbita pepo) – annual seeds from SeedsChoice
    20%
    Black Beauty Zucchini Seeds Cucurbita Pepo Annual Summersquash
    €3,56€4,45

    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...
  • Courgette Tondo Nizza seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable Courgette Tondo Nizza (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    20%
    Courgette Tondo Nizza Seeds Cucurbita Pepo Annual Variety
    €3,96€4,95

    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...
  • 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
    €6,95

    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...
  • 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
    €4,45

    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...
  • Summer Squash Black Beauty seeds (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable Summer Squash Black Beauty (Cucurbita pepo) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    20%
    Summer Squash Black Beauty Seeds Cucurbita Pepo Annual
    €3,96€4,95

    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...
  • 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
    €4,95

    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
    20%
    Spaghetti Squash Seeds Cucurbita Pepo Annual Vegetable
    €3,96€4,95

    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...
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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.