CUCURBITS<br />
Curator: Ted Radovich, UH CTAHR/SOAP Chef: JJ Leng<br />
There are many varieties of pumpkin & squash grown on an estimated 200+ acres at any given time in Hawai’i. The majority of pumpkins grown in Hawai’i belongs to the species Curcubita moschata (tropical pumpkin or calabaza), which is well adapted for the low-land tropics. Current breeding and selection efforts are focused on combining desirable traits such as insect resistance, heat tolerance, dark orange flesh and smooth fruits. The pumpkins featured come from advanced lines selected by CTAHR graduate student Alex Campbell who received her Masters under breeder Mike Kantar.