Plants in the Cucurbita genus, variously known as squash, pumpkin, or gourd, depending on the species, will readily crosspollinate with other varieties of their species but not between species. By limiting the number of varieties a gardener grows to only one from each species within the Cucurbita genus those wishing to save Cucurbita seeds will greatly reduce the risk that the seeds they save would have cross pollinated with another variety from the same species.
This chart helps gardeners identify which variety of squash, pumpkin or gourd is from which species within the Cucurbita genus.
There are three main species within the Cucurbita genus: C. Maxima, C. Moschata and C. Pepo. Though note that there are two other Cucurbita species, C. argyrosperma and C. ficifolia, but vegetable varieties from these two species are not commonly available.
Plants in the Cucurbita genus will readily crosspollinate with other varieties of their species within the genus. But while some interspecific crosses between the three main Cucurbita species have been achieved through specific breeding techniques, they are not typical or easily obtained in most gardens.
The aim of this chart is to help gardeners identify the species of the different Cucurbita vegetables they are growing.
If a gardener wishes to save seeds from one of these three key Cucurbita vegetable species it is best to grow only one variety of a given species at a time as this will greatly improve the likelihood that the saved seeds will stay true to type.
Though it will only reduce the risk of cross pollination as there is always the possibility of crosspollination from Cucurbita varieties being grown in other vegetable gardens in the immediate area.
To download a printable PDF of this chart click HERE.
