There are three methods of field production: growing on the flat, on flat ridges
or on mounds (sometimes referred to as ‘hills’).
The system adopted depends on the irrigation system and efficiency of soil drainage as this crop is not successful in waterlogged soils.
The preparation of mound systems is very labourintensiveas it is difficult to mechanize the operation.
The ultimate planting density depends on the type of cucurbit and whether
it has a trailing (‘vine’) or bush habit in its vegetative growth.
Row spacingsof 90 cm to 3.5 m are used according to the vigourof the
cultivar to be grown.
●Internal characters: flesh colour and seed cavity.
●Resistance to specific pathogens, including Fusariumspecies.
(Detailed test guidelines for vegetable marrow and squash (119) and pumpkin
(155) are obtainable from UPOV; see Appendix 2.)