Squashes generally refer to four species of the genus Cucurbita native to the Mexico and Central America, also called marrows depending on variety or the nationality of the speaker. In North America, squash is loosely grouped into summer squash or winter squash, as well as autumn squash (another name is cheese squash) depending on whether they are harvested as immature fruits (summer squash) or mature fruits (autumn squash or winter squash). Gourds are from the same family as squashes. Well known types of squash include the pumpkin and zucchini.

Archaeological evidence suggests that squash may have been first cultivated in Mesoamerica some 8,000 to 10,000 years ago ^[1][2], but may have been independently cultivated elsewhere, albeit later.^[3] Squash was one of the "Three Sisters" planted by Native Americans. The Three Sisters were the three main indigenous plants used for agriculture: maize (corn), beans, and squash. These were usually planted together, with the cornstalk providing support for the climbing beans, and shade for the squash. The squash vines provided ground cover to limit weeds. The beans provided nitrogen fixing for all three crops.

Summer squashes, including young vegetable marrows (such as zucchini [also known as courgette], pattypan and yellow crookneck) are harvested during the growing season, while the skin is still soft and the fruit pretty much small, they are eaten almost immediately and require little to no cooking.

Winter squashes (such as butternut, Hubbard, buttercup, ambercup, acorn, spaghetti squash and pumpkin) are harvested at maturity, generally the end of summer, cured to further harden the skin, and stored in a cool place for eating later. They generally require longer cooking time than summer squashes. (Note: Although the term winter squash is used here to differentiate from summer squash, it is also commonly used as a synonym for Cucurbita maxima.)

The squash fruit is classified as a pepo by botanists, which is a special type of berry with a thick outer wall or rind formed from hypanthium tissue fused to the exocarp; the fleshy interior is composed of mesocarp and endocarp. The pepo, derived from an inferior ovary, is characteristic of the Squash Family (Cucurbitaceae).

In addition to the fruit, other parts of the plant are edible. Squash seeds can be eaten directly, ground into paste, or (particularly for pumpkins) pressed for vegetable oil. The shoots, leaves, and tendrils can be eaten as greens. The blossoms are an important part of native American cooking and are also used in many other parts of the world.

Pollination

Bee pollinating a zucchini squash

In cooking

Though considered a vegetable in cooking, botanically speaking, squash is a fruit (being the receptacle for the plant's seeds), and not a vegetable.

Etymology

The English word "squash" derives from askutasquash (a green thing eaten raw), a word from the Narragansett language, which was documented by Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island, in his 1643 publication A Key Into the Language of America. Similar words for squash exist in related languages of the Algonquian family such as Massachusett.

<gallery> Image:Beige squashes DSC01081.jpg|Squashes grow hanging from a network of stalks Image:Yellow_squash_DSC01080.jpg|A yellow squash Image:PetitPanSquash.jpg|Petit Pan squash Image:Femalesquash3747.JPG|Longitudinal section of female flower of squash (courgette), showing ovary, ovules, pistil, and petals Image:Turban squash.JPG|A turban squash Image:Delicata Squash-small.jpg| Delicata squash, also known as Sweet Potato squash Image:Squashes.jpg|Various squashes such as Turban, Sweet Dumpling, Carnival, Gold Acorn, Delicata, Buttercup and Golden Nugget. </gallery>

Use as an object of art

Moche Squash Ceramic. 300 A.D. Larco Museum Collection

References

External links

• Squash Display at Missouri Botanical Garden - Pics of 150 varieties from The Great Pumpkin Patch
• Squash Display at Missouri Botanical Garden - * http://www.mastergardeners.org/projects/mcclellan_2003/2003_squash/ - Master Gardeners: McClellan Ranch 2003 Squash Varieties

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