cucurbits

Cucurbits are plants in the family Cucurbitaceae that are cultivated for their edible fruits, including cucumbers, melons, squashes, pumpkins, and gourds. The group comprises many genera, with the best-known being Cucumis (cucumber and melons), Cucurbita (squashes, pumpkins, gourds), Citrullus (watermelon), and Lagenaria (bottle gourd). They are primarily warm-season annuals widely grown in temperate and tropical regions.

These plants are herbaceous vines with simple to palmately lobed leaves and tendrils that help them climb or spread. Fruits are typically large, fleshy, and ribbed or smooth-skinned, with high water content. Flowering is usually monoecious, producing separate male and female flowers on the same plant; pollination is often by bees, which is essential for fruit set in many varieties. Some cultivated forms are parthenocarpic and can set fruit without fertilization.

Cucurbits require warm soil and long growing seasons, and they are sensitive to frost. They prefer well-drained soil, consistent moisture, and plenty of sunlight. In cultivation, many varieties benefit from trellising to save space and improve air circulation, reducing disease risk.

Edible cucurbits provide substantial nutritional value, including hydration from high water content and nutrients like vitamin C for many fruits. In addition to fresh consumption, fruits are used for pickling, cooking, and storage, while seeds and oil are consumed in some species. They are economically important crops in agriculture and home gardening worldwide, and anciently cultivated across continents, with ongoing breeding to improve yield, flavor, disease resistance, and shelf life.