Cucurbita pepo 'Harlequin'

RHS Plant Profile

squash 'Harlequin'

Michael John Day

Synonyms

Cucurbita maxima 'Harlequin'

Annual Biennial

An early-maturing compact, bushy winter squash producing acorn or dumpling-shaped fruits to around 700g. Fruits have green, yellow and orange-striped skins encasing a very sweet, moist flesh. A good alternative for smaller gardens as it does not trail for many metres like other varieties do. It may still benefit from support to keep the fruit off the ground

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Sand, Loam

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

1.5-2.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1 year
Max Spread: 1.5-2.5 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Sand Loam

Moisture: Well–drained or Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H2

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Cucurbitaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy, Trailing
Potentially harmful: Humans/Pets: If crop is bitter, don't eat or feed to pets. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Genus: A small genus of climbing or trailing, annual herbaceous fruits. Several edible species are cultivated for food and other uses. Native to Central and South America. Solitary, star-shaped flowers are usually golden-yellow. Leaves are palmately lobed, covered with tiny, prickly hairs
Name Status: Unresolved

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in rich, fertile, well drained soil in full sun. Start indoors from mid-late April, sowing in individual pots with seeds on their side about 1.5cm deep. Harden off before June then transplant outdoors to final growing position. See cucurbit cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds or sowing seeds indoors for further advice

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
Wildlife gardens

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and snails

Diseases

May be susceptible to grey moulds and Powdery mildews