Introduction

      Squash, Cucurbita moschata (Duch.) Duch. Ex Poir., is a monoecious annual crop whose stems are long-running or short and bushy, soft-to-hard, and round-to-angular. Adventitious roots are also commonly formed at its nodes. Flowers are solitary with lemon yellow to deep orange in color.

Uses and Nutritional Value

       Fruits, young shoots, and flowers are used as vegetables, while seeds are roasted as snack food.

       Each 100 g of edible portion of the fruit contains:

Nutrient                                       Amount
Water                                         85 - 91 g
Protein                                       0.8 - 2.0 g
Fat                                             0.1 - 0.5 g
Carbohydrates                             3.3 - 11 g
Vitamin A                                   340 - 7800 IU
Vitamin B1                                  0.07 - 0.14 mg
Vitamin B2                                  0.01 - 0.04 mg
Niacin                                         0.5 - 1.2 mg
Vitamin C                                     6 - 21 mg
Calcium                                      14 - 48 mg
Iron                                             70.0 mg
Magnesium                                  16 - 34 mg
Phosphorus                                 21 - 38 mg
Energy Value                                7 - 170 Kj

Production Management

Variety

       Rizalina - is extremely vigorous with four to five fruits per plant; well-adapted to both dry and wet seasons; and highly tolerant to squash virus complex and downy mildew. Fruit is deeply ridged and flat round. Yellow orange flesh is suitable for baking and cooking purposes. Harvest commences 102 - 125 days after planting.

Climatic and Soil Requirements

       Squash is a dry-season crop adapted to mean temperatures of 180 - 270 C, but it can also tolerate low temperatures. A relatively dry, warm climate and a dry period are necessary for fruit setting.

       It thrives on many types of soil but grows well on organic-rich medium often found on compost or refuse heaps. A soil pH range of 5.6 to 6.5 is recommended.

Land Preparation

       Squash can be grown with minimum tillage. Clear area and dig holes at appropriate distances. Under partial shade or when intercropped with coconut, a wider spacing of 4 - 5 m between hills can be practiced.

       Plowing and harrowing twice can also do intensive preparation. Prepare adjacent beds 0.75 - 1.0 m wide. The double bed where the vines will be trained should be 5-7 m apart.

Planting and Spacing

       Plant either by direct sowing to plots or containers, or transplanting. In direct seeding, 2-3 seeds/hill at a depth of 2-3 cm with a distance of 2-3 m between rows and 1 m between hills. In backyard gardens, squash can be grown with trellises to maximize space.

       Incorporate decomposed animal manure and other compost materials to the soil to improve soil structure. Apply mulch to minimize weeds and to maintain adequate soil moisture. Rice straw, grass clippings and plastic can be used as mulching materials.

Irrigation

       Squash is tolerant to drought but it benefits well from regular irrigation during the dry season. Irrigate by furrow every 7-10 days. Mulching can help conserve soil moisture. The double bed method can make furrow irrigation easier and more systematic.

Fertilization

      At planting, apply 1-2 kg per hill of well-decomposed manure or compost. Apply complete fertilizer (14-14-14) at 20-30 g/hill. Side-dress with 10-20 g of 1:1 mixture of urea (46-0-0) and muriate of potash (0-0-60) every 2-4 weeks depending on plant growth. Use lower rates of urea if the plants are too vigorous. Wood ash and rice hull ash can also be used as source of potassium.

Pest and Disease Management

      Squash is susceptible to cucurbit beetle and cutworms. To control, spread wood ash or rice hull ash on the leaves. Another major pest is fruit fly.

     The common disease of squash are bacterial wilt, downy mildew, powdery mildew, little leaf, squash leaf curl and watermelon mosaic virus. Bacterial wilt can be minimized through the use of compost and animal manure. Using resistant or tolerant varieties such as Rizalina, and through strict sanitation best controls the mildews and viruses.

Harvesting

     Harvest just before fruits are fully ripe or when the peduncle starts to dry up. It is best to harvest the fruits with a portion of the peduncle attached to prolong storage life. Squash is also harvested immature when it is to be cooked with the skin intact. Avoid cutting fruits from the vines if it cannot be marketed immediately.

Costs and Return Analysis Per Hectare

ITEMS                                                        AMOUNT (P)
I. VARIABLE COSTS                                   P 33,145
A. Labor (P150/MD) 
    Plowing                                                      1,500
    Harrowing                                                   1,000
    Furrowing                                                   1,500
    Fertlization (4x)(9MD)                                  1,350
    Planting (2 MD)                                             300
    Fertilization (4x) (9MD)                                1,350
    Irrigation (7x) (21 MD)                                  3,150
   Hilling-up (4MD)                                             600
   Weeding (3x) (6 MD)                                      900
   Spraying (2x) (2MD)optional                         1,200
   Harvesting (8x)(8 MD)                                  1,200
                  Sub-total                                   11,800


B. Materials
    Seeds (2kg/ha)                                          3,300 
    Animal manure (10 t)                                10,000
    Fertilizer 
       46-0-0 (1 bags)                                          465 
       14-14-14 (2 bags)                                      700 
       0-0-60 (1 bag)                                            600
      Insecticide (Sevin) (2kg)
   Optional                                                     1,280 
   Miscellaneous                                            5,000
                    Sub-total                                21,345

II. FIXED COSTS                                         19,663 
Land rental                                       5,000
Depreciation
        5 pcs. Scythe (2 yrs)                     63
        5 pcs. Hoe ( 3 yrs)                       125
        3 pcs. Shovel (3 yrs)                      75
       1 knapsack sprayers (5 yrs)           400
       1 grass cutter (5 yrs.) 2,000
Interest on Loans at 20% int. PA        12,000
TOTAL COSTS                             P 52,808
GROSS INCOME a     100,000
NET INCOME 47,192
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a With marketable yield of 20 t/ha at P5/kg