Sementeira
Sow in the final location or in a tray, transplanting when seedlings are about 10 cm tall.
A versatile and distinctively shaped squash — long, narrow, and with deep orange flesh that goes from courgette to ripe squash on the same plant.
About the variety. Longue de Nice is a club-shaped elongated variety with cream skin (turning orange at maturity) and intensely orange flesh. Fruits weigh between 3 and 8 kg. Its greatest asset is versatility: harvested young it behaves like a courgette; fully ripe, it reveals all the sweetness of a pumpkin. The flowers are edible and attractive to bees.
Itinerário técnico
Um guia de cultivo passo a passo, da sementeira à colheita.
Sow in the final location or in a tray, transplanting when seedlings are about 10 cm tall.
Fertile, loamy and well-drained soils are recommended for cultivation. Soil pH should be between 6.5 and 7.0
It is a crop that thrives in warm conditions, with the ideal temperature for growth and fruit set between 22 and 32°C, and night temperatures that do not normally drop below 20°C, as temperatures below this value lead to poor pollen tube growth. Soil temperature at sowing time should be at least 20°C.
It is a nitrogen-demanding crop, so well-composted organic matter should be incorporated into the soil before planting.
Irrigation is essential during flowering, pollination and fruit growth, and water doses should be gradually reduced as the fruit approaches maturity. For this reason, drip irrigation is a good option for this crop, as it adapts to the varying water requirements throughout the growing cycle and avoids wetting the leaves (which can promote the development of diseases).
Mechanical control in the early stages of the crop cycle and mulching with organic materials or plastic are options that help prevent competition between weeds and the crop.
Mites and thrips are the main pests of this crop. Mites can be controlled through biological control using predatory mites and the application of azadirachtin and sulphur powder (if temperature < 28°C). Thrips control is achieved by using border plants that favour anthocorid beneficial insects (marigolds and other composites) and through biological control with predatory mites and anthocorids.
Fusarium wilt and downy mildew are diseases affecting this crop. To control fusarium wilt, appropriate crop rotations, biofumigation and soil solarization should be carried out. For downy mildew control, appropriate crop rotations should be used along with improvements to soil structure and permeability (avoiding waterlogging), through the use of wide plant spacing and the application of copper-based fungicides.