Pumpkin

PUMPKINS (Cucurbita pepo)

Pumpkin is a gourd-like squash of the genus Cucurbita and the family Cucurbitaceae.
The plant is believed to have originated in North America. They vary greatly in shape,ranging from oblate to oblong. The rind is smooth and usually lightly ribbed. The fruit colour ranges from orange to yellow, dark green, pale green, orange-yellow, white, red and gray.

Ecological Requirements
Altitude
Pumpkins and squashes are grown in the tropics from the lowlands up to 2500 m above sea level.
Rainfall
They are drought-tolerant, requiring relatively little water, and are sensitive to water logging. Excessive humidity is harmful because of the development of leaf diseases, so none of the species do well in the humid tropics. They grow well under irrigation in dry areas.
Soils
They can be cultivated on almost any fertile, well-drained soil with a neutral or slightly acid reaction. The pH is 5.5 to 7.
Temperature
They are warm-season crops adapted to monthly mean temperatures of 18-27°C.