All squash comes from one of the following five Cucurbita species: C. argyrosperma, C. ficifolia, C. maxima, C. moschata and C. pepo. Some market groups (like pumpkin) cross multiple species. For simplicity sake, we will group most of these Cucurbata cultivars into two groups: Winter Squash and Summer Squash.

Winter Squash is so named because the fruits of these vines are hardy enough to store through the winter without spoilage. If you live in a region with a long winter, you may want to be growing some of these:

Summer Squash is the more delicate squash with a shorter shelf-life. Nonetheless these have been equally as prized by horticulturalists for generations:

Most Gourds are related to squash. Some of them may not be as delicious or even as edible, but they have their uses. Some are cultivar groups of the squash species above. Others are whole species in themselves. Some notable & important gourds are: