Lost Crops of the Incas Little-Known Plants of the Andes with Promise for Worldwide Cultivation (1989) / Chapter Skim
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Squashes and Their Relatives
Squashes and Their Relatives
Pages 202-209
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samba .
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From page 203... ...
They have wide adaptability and are easily cultivated. Their needs are usually satisfied by moderate soil moisture, and once vigorous growth starts, they seldom need weeding.
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From page 204... ...
Its center of diversity lies in northern Argentina, Bolivia, southern Peru, and northern Chile, but by the 1400s it had been spread northward throughout the warmer parts of the Inca realm.3 At the time of Columbus, it was still confined to South America, but today it is widely grown throughout the world, particularly in Europe, India, the Philippines, and the United States. It is a winter-type4 squash and includes the table vegetable most often called "pumpkin," as well as many common vegetables called "squash." More tolerant to cool temperatures than other squashes, this species is grown as far south as the limits of agriculture in Chile.
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From page 205... ...
At the time of the Spanish colonization, the crookneck was abundant in northern South America and Central America.5 Today, it is grown extensively in other parts of the world, especially in tropical Asia and Japan. Highly esteemed varieties in the United States include such cultivars as Butternut and Cushaw.
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From page 206... ...
Pale green with darker green veins, they have a spongy interior containing up to a dozen seeds. Some immature achochas look and taste like tiny cucumbers, for which they are fair substitutes in many culinary uses.
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From page 207... ...
Achocha is undoubtedly of South American origin—probably including the Caribbean but it is found in Mexico as well. In fact, the crop is cultivated from Mexico to Bolivia and grows prolifically in mountainous valleys up to 2,000 m elevation.
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From page 208... ...
The plant is well known in Mexico and Central America and has been introduced, as a curiosity mostly, to France and possibly to other European countries. The young fruits are eaten cooked in soups, but |2 In Spanish it goes by many common names, including secana (Peru)
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From page 209... ...
Cucurbits now grow throughout the temperate world and contribute a wide variety of products ranging from the Halloween pumpkin of the United States to the glasshouse cucumber of England. The important cultivated species are major market crops in North America, southern Europe, and temperate Asia.
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