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Zucchini/Courgette
Zucchini/Courgette
Scientific name:
Cucurbita pepo
Family:
Violales: Cucurbitaceae
Common names:
Ornamental gourd, Marrow, gourd, Summer squash
Pests and Diseases:
Anthracnose  Aphids  Downy mildew  Epilachna beetles  Fruit flies  Powdery mildew  Viruses  Scab  
General Information and Agronomic Aspects
Geographical Distribution of Zucchini in Africa
Fruits, leaves and flowers of Zucchini and other Cucurbita species are used as vegetables, and their seeds are consumed roasted as a snack food (CAB 2006). Zucchini has a mild flavour and is very watery. It is often harvested when still very young. At this stage it is also called squash or courgette. Because the fruit has very little flavour of its own it is often used as a base for making savoury dishes. The seeds can be scooped out of and a replaced with a filling - this can then be baked (Plants for a Future 2003). Ornamental gourds are cultivars of C. pepo with small, bitter and inedible fruits in many shapes, sizes and colours (CAB 2006).













Nutritive Value per 100 g of edible Portion
Raw or Cooked Zucchini Food
Energy
(Calories / %Daily Value*)
Carbohydrates
(g / %DV)
Fat
(g / %DV)
Protein
(g / %DV)
Calcium
(g / %DV)
Phosphorus
(mg / %DV)
Iron
(mg / %DV)
Potassium
(mg / %DV)
Vitamin A
(I.U)
Vitamin C
(I.U)
Vitamin B 6
(I.U)
Vitamin B 12
(I.U)
Thiamine
(mg / %DV)
Riboflavin
(mg / %DV)
Ash
(g / %DV)
Zucchini with skin cooked 16.0 / 1% 3.9 / 1% 0.1 / 0% 0.6 / 1% 13.0 / 1% 40.0 / 4% 0.4 / 2% 253 / 7% 1117 IU / 22% 4.6 / 8% 0.1 / 4% 0.0 / 0% 0.0 / 3% 0.0 / 2% 0.6
Zucchini with skin raw 16.0 / 1% 3.3 / 1% 0.2 / 0% 1.2 / 2% 15.0 / 1% 38.0 / 4% 0.4 / 2% 262 / 7% 200 IU / 4% 17.0 / 28% 0.2 / 11% 0.0 / 0% 0.0 / 3% 0.1 / 8% 0.6
*Percent Daily Values (DV) are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower, depending on your calorie needs.


Climatic conditions, soil and water management
Zucchini requires a rich, well-drained soil that is able to retain moisture. It grows best in a sunny and sheltered position. Plants are tolerant to light shade. It prefers a pH of 5.5 to 5.9, but tolerates up to 6.8 (Plants for a Future 2003). It responds very well to fairly heavy applications of good compost or well-decomposed manure in the planting hills or ridges. Drought stress quickly reduces fruit setting, so during dry spells irrigation is a must, preferably watering below the leaves or using drip irrigation.


Propagation and planting
Zucchini and squashes are grown from seed. Seeds may be sown in containers and transplanted to the field when they are 10 cm high or have 2 real leaves. Direct seeding of two to three per hill is also commonly practised. Trailing types are planted at distances of 2 to 3 m either way; the seed requirement is 2 to 3 kg/ha. The bushy types are planted closer, for example, plants spaced 60 to 120 cm in rows 1 to 1.5 m apart. The seed requirement for Zucchini is 7 kg/ha. Plant densities vary from 5,000 plants per ha for the long-running trailing forms to 20,000 plants per ha for the bushy types (CAB 2006).

Husbandry
Sole cropping is normally used for commercial production. Zucchini and squashes are also planted in home gardens as fresh vegetables. Cultural practices to improve growth and development include the removal of growing tips to check growth in case of trailing varieties.


Harvesting
Zucchini and other summer squashes, from which the immature fruit is used as a fresh vegetable, develop very rapidly. The first marketable fruits can be harvested 50 to 60 days after planting, or 3 to 6 days after appearance of the female flower. During the harvest season the fruits are harvested two to three times per week. (CAB 2006)

Crop yields for summer squash (immature fruits) are 7 to 12 t/ha. Unless grown for seed, mature fruits are not marketable, so plants are removed when yields become too low. Indicative figures for seed yield of zucchini and other squashes are 400 to 1500 kg/ha. In seed production, isolation between fields of different Cucurbita species is recommended, not only for reason of purity but also for obtaining maximum yields (pollen of other species may cause reduced fruit set).

Summer squash of good quality can be kept for up to 14 days when stored at 7 to 10°C and 85 to 95% RH (CAB 2006).

Information on Pests
General Information
Courgettes are affected by similar pests as other cucurbits as they belong to the same family of Cucurbitacea. Other members of this family include melons, squash, pumpkin, and cucumber.

The leaf-feeding Epilachna beetles are a serious problem for Cucurbita growers. Aphids and various leaf beetles can also cause problems on courgetes.

For more information on courgette pests refer to datasheet on cucumber (click here).

Information on Diseases
General Information
Courgettes are affected by similar diseases as other cucurbits as they belong to the same family of Cucurbitacea. Other members of this family include melons, squash, pumpkin, and cucumber.

Anthracnose (Colletotrichum orbiculare) is the most destructive disease. It causes defoliation and lesions on the fruits.

Other fungal diseases, mainly affecting the leaves and stems are:
  • Powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum)
  • Downy mildew (Peronospora cubensis)
  • Scab (Cladosporium cucumerinum)

Many important virus diseases affect cucurbits. These include Cucumber mosaic cucumovirus (CMV), Watermelon mosaic 2 potyvirus (WMV-2), Watermelon mosaic 1 potyvirus, Zucchini yellow mosaic potyvirus (ZYMV), Squash leaf curl bigeminivirus (SLCV).

For more information on these diseases refer to datasheet on cucumber (click here).

Information Source Links
  • AIC, Nairobi (2003). Fruits and Vegetables Technical Handbook
  • AVRDC International Cooperators' Factsheet on Cucurbits www.avrdc.org
  • Beije, C.M., Kanyangia,S.T., Muriuki, S.J.N., Otieno, E.A., Seif, A.A., Whittle, A.M. (1984). Horticultural Crops Protection Handbook. National Horticultural Research Station, Thika. KEN/75/028 and KEN/80/017/
  • Blay, E., Cudjoe, A. R., Braun M. (Eds) (2000). Handbook of crop protection recommendations in Ghana: An IPM approach. Vol 2; vegetables. Plant Protection & Regulatory Services Directorate (PPRSD) and the Integrated Crop Protection Project, German Development Cooperation (GTZ).
  • Bohlen, E. (1973). Crop pest in Tanzania and their control. Federal Agency for Economic Cooperation (BFE). Veralgh Paul Parey. ISBN 3-489-64826-9.
  • CAB (2005). Crop ProtectionCompendium, 2005 Edition. © CAB International Publishing. www.cabi.org
  • CAB (2006). Crop ProtectionCompendium, 2006 Edition. © CAB International Publishing. www.cabi.org
  • EcoPort. The consilience engine. www.ecoport.org
  • Ekesi, S., Billah M. K. (Eds) (2006. A field guide to the management of economically important tephritid fruit flies in Africa. ICIPE. ISBN: 92-9064-179-7.
  • Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Kenya) (MoARD) & Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) (2000). Local and Export Vegetables Growing Manual. Reprinted by Agricultural Information Resource Centre, Nairobi, Kenya. 274 pp.
  • Nutrition Data www.nutritiondata.com.
  • Ostermann, H. and Dreyer, M. (1995). Vegetables and grain legumes. In: The Neem tree Azadirachta indica A. Juss. and other meliaceous plants sources of unique natural products for integrated pest management, industry and other purposes? Edited by H. Schmutterer in collaboration with K. R. S. Ascher, M. B. Isman, M. Jacobson, C. M. Ketkar, W. Kraus, H. Rembolt, and R.C. Saxena. VCH. pp. 392-403. ISBN: 3-527-30054-6
  • Park SoDeuk, Kwon TaeYong, Lim Yang Sook, Jung KiChae, Choi BooSull (1996). Disease survey in melon, watermelon, and cucumber with different successive cropping periods under vinylhouse conditions. Korean Journal of Plant Pathology, 12(4):428-431.
  • Plants for a Future (2003). Edible, medicinal and useful plants for a healthier world. www.pfaf.org
  • Sherf, A.F., Macnab, A.A. (1986). Vegetable Diseases and Their Control. 2nd. Edition. John Wiley & Sons Inc. USA. ISBN: 0-471-05860-2
  • University of Georgia: College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Department of Horticulture Vegetable Crops: Pumpkin.
Contact Links
  • For information on small scale farming techniques, seeds, equipment and insecticides (e.g. pyrethrum solution).
    HYGROTECH EAST AFRICA, LTD
    Region :KENYA / TANZANIA - Location: NAIROBI
    Address :P.O.Box 41446, Nairobi, Tigoni Centre, Limuru Road, KENYA
    Phone :+254 (0) 20 205 3916-8
    Fax :+254 (0) 20 205 3921
    E-Mail: [email protected]
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