Plant Description
The gem squash is a trailing or vine cucurbit that bears small, dark green round fruit of about 80 to 100 mm in diameter. The plant bears both female and male flowers and the main pollinators are bees.
It is therefore advisable to invest in beehives in or next to the fields. A healthy bee population ensures good and timeous pollination.
The plant has a tap root that can descend to 60 cm, although most of the roots are in the top 20 to 30 cm topsoil zone and it is these shallow roots that do most of the work in providing the water and nutrients to the plant and ultimately the fruit. The seeds form in a round cavity in the centre of the fruit.
Uses
Gem squash are boiled and the yellow flesh is eaten as a vegetable. They are also cultivated as a baby vegetable and these are eaten whole.Soil Requirements and Preparation
Gem squash require a sandy loam to loam soil that drains well. The pH of the soil should be between 6 and 7. The organic content of the soil should be above average. To add compost or manure to the soil is advisable.
Before starting to prepare the plant area for planting the grower should take representative soil samples from a cross-section of the area to be cultivated.
These samples must be analysed by a reputable laboratory to ascertain what the nutrient requirements the soil needs. When preparing the soil for planting it is good to loosen the profile of the soil by ripping the soil to break obstructions in the soil profile down to between 600 mm to 800 mm.
This aids in the drainage of the soil and will ensure a healthy root system. About 5 to 6 weeks before planting the nutrients required as per the soil analysis recommendations should be applied. This could be lime for pH rectification or compost and super-phosphates. To incorporate this into the soil, plough these into the top 450 mm of soil.
This also ploughs in crop and weed residue on the field, and allows the nutrients and organic matter to settle into the profile. The week before planting the trace elements and a pre-plant fertiliser can be applied to the plant area then disk harrowed or rotavator into the top 20 cm of soil to prepare the topsoil for the planting of the seeds or seedlings.
The seedbeds are drawn and plastic or organic mulching is laid to assist with weed control and soil moisture control.
Climate
Gem squash is a warm climate crop and in South Africa is mostly planted in spring and summer. It can be planted throughout the year if the temperatures are not too cold and there is no frost. It is not resistant to frost.
Germination of gem squash seeds starts when soil temperatures reach 16°C+ although more uniform germination occurs when soil temperatures are closer to 20°C. The best growth and fruiting temperatures are between 20°C and 28°C.
The plant is relatively water-wise and can be cultivated under dryland conditions if rainfall is consistent. The best harvests are however achieved when lands are irrigated.