Summer squash

Cucurbita pepo includes zucchini, pattypan squash, the chappan kaddu of Indian markets, spaghetti squash and the orange Halloween pumpkin. It was one of the first plants domesticated in the Americas, in Mexico about ten thousand years ago. In India zucchini and summer squash are grown in the hills and cool seasons and sold in city markets. The kaddu of most Indian kitchens is a different species, Cucurbita moschata.

Botanical name

Cucurbita pepo L.

Family

Cucurbitaceae

Tamil

Summer squash

Hindi

Chappan kaddu

Parts used

Immature fruit, Mature flesh, Seeds, Flowers

Habit

Summer squash and zucchini; English pumpkin names three Cucurbita

Last updated

2026-10-27

How to recognise Summer squash

It is a bushy or trailing annual with prickly, hairy stems and leaves.

The leaves are large and lobed, often with silver blotches.

Big, bright yellow, bell-shaped flowers open in the morning; male and female flowers are on the same plant.

The fruit stalk is hard and sharply five-angled, a useful sign of this species.

Cucurbita moschata has a softer stalk that flares at the fruit, and Cucurbita maxima has a round, corky stalk.

Traditional use of Summer squash

Kitchen

Young zucchini is sliced and sautéed, grilled or stirred into curries and pasta.

Global food practice

Kitchen

The flowers are stuffed and fried in Italy and Mexico.

Italian and Mexican food practice

Kitchen

Hull-less pumpkin seeds from Austria are pressed into dark green Styrian pumpkin seed oil.

Austrian food practice

Modern notes on Summer squash

Zucchini and squash are low in calories and supply vitamin C, potassium and fibre.

Squash seeds of 8,000 to 10,000 years old from caves in Oaxaca, Mexico, are among the earliest crop remains in the Americas.

Bitter fruits can contain cucurbitacins, which cause severe vomiting and diarrhoea and have occasionally been fatal.

Summer squash safety

If a zucchini or squash tastes bitter, spit it out and throw away the rest. Wash it well before eating raw.

Ecology and sourcing

Its wild ancestors grow in Mexico and the southern United States.

Squash bees in the Americas specialise in its flowers; in India honeybees pollinate it.

It needs warm soil but suffers in very hot, humid weather.

Related plants

Also in Cucurbitaceae

Questions about Summer squash

Is zucchini a pumpkin?

It is the same species as some pumpkins.

Is Summer squash Indian kaddu?

No. Most Indian kaddu is Cucurbita moschata.

Can zucchini be eaten raw?

Yes, if it is not bitter.

Why is bitter zucchini dangerous?

It may contain toxic cucurbitacins.

Are the flowers of Summer squash edible?

Yes, often stuffed and fried.

Sources

• Cucurbita pepo L. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
• Wikidata item Q7229863 (Cucurbita pepo)

Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.