Japanese name: ズッキーニ Scientific name:Cucurbita pepo ‘Melopepo’
[Overview]
A climbing annual.
It is also called tsuru-nashi kabocha (vineless pumpkin); it grows in clumps from the base of the plant, or the stems creep along the ground.
The leaves are alternate and large, and some are deeply cut.
There are male and female flowers, both yellow.
It is one of the edible pumpkins; in Japan, long slender fruits like cucumbers are common, but pear-shaped and round ones also exist.
The skin is smooth.
[Uses]
The young fruits are cooked and eaten.
The flowers are also eaten, as "hana zucchini" (flower zucchini).
[Cultivation]
As it grows, its large leaves spread, so it needs a wide area, with about 1 m between plants.
Grow it in a sunny, well-drained place.
It tends to be weak against summer heat and high humidity.
When growing from seed, transplant to the final location once 4–5 true leaves have appeared.
Stems whipped about by the wind will break, so secure them with stakes.
When female flowers open, hand-pollinate them by around 9 a.m.
After fruit set, apply additional fertilizer at 3-week intervals so the plant does not run out of nutrients.
Pests and diseases include viral disease, powdery mildew, cucurbit leaf beetles, aphids and spider mites.
