OUTSTANDING QUALITIES
- Vigorous bush type plant
- Exceptional uniformity
- Medium sized fruit
- High yield potential
Cosmos F1 hybrid is a Cucurbita moschata type butternut with medium sized fruit. The bush plants are vigorous and tend therefore to be less susceptible to diseases. Yield potential is excellent for a bush type plant. Fruit shape is similar to that of Waltham and the weight is 800 – 1 200 g. The smooth rind has a tan colour when mature. Cosmos is well adapted for planting in spring. As fruit set is concentrated, fruit may be ready for harvest when supply to the market is limited. One of the advantages of the bush plant is that mechanical weed control is possible well into the growing season. Cosmos has intermediate resistance to Powdery mildew (Px) (ex Sf).
SPECIAL VARIETAL REQUIREMENTS
- Cosmos is recommended only for the fresh market, not processing or export
- Suggested plant population is 15 000 plants per ha
|
CHARACTERISTIC* |
COSMOS |
|
KIND |
F1 hybrid squash (Cucurbita moschata (Duchesne) Duchesne ex Poiret) |
|
TYPE |
Butternut squash |
|
MATURITY |
85 - 100 days to harvest as mature fruit |
|
SEASON |
Widely adapted for production after danger of frost has passed |
|
PLANT TYPE |
Bush |
|
FRUIT SHAPE |
Cylindrical, with a bulbous blossom end |
|
RIND COLOUR |
Tan |
|
YIELD POTENTIAL |
30 - 35 t/ha |
|
MATURE HARVEST MASS |
800 – 1 200 g |
|
SHELF LIFE (MATURE FRUIT) |
Medium |
|
UNIFORMITY |
Excellent |
|
POPULATION GUIDE |
Final stand of 15 000 plants per ha |
|
DISEASE REACTION (SCIENTIFIC) |
Intermediate resistance: Podosphaera xanthii (ex Sphaerotheca fuliginea) Px (ex Sf) |
|
MARKETS / END USE |
Fresh market |
|
SPECIAL FEATURES |
Very uniform, medium size fruit. Early, concentrated fruit set and early harvesting of fruit |