What it needs & gives back
↓ Needs
Sunlightfull sun to partial shade
Watermoderate to high
↑ Gives back
Biomasshigh
Fruitedible
Seedsedible
Companions
Through the year
Emergence
Seeds germinate when soil temperatures are consistently warm.
Flowering
Flowering typically begins about two months after emergence and continues for several weeks.
Fruiting
Fruits begin to set after flowering and mature over a long period.
Harvest
Harvest can begin when fruits reach maturity and continue as more ripen.
Senescence
Plants begin to decline and die back with the first autumn frosts.
Timing is relative to your local season (temperate Northern Hemisphere).
Soil interactions
Drainagewell-drained
Nitrogen fixingNo
MycorrhizalYes
Soil textureloam, sandy loam
Organic matterMedium
Compaction toleranceLow
Propagation
Methodsseed
Difficulty2 / 5
Establishes in~1 yr
Self-seedingModerate
Wildlife & pests
Attractsbees
Can host pestssquash bugs, cucumber beetles, aphids
Can host diseasespowdery mildew