Grow Tropical Ayote Squash in Costa Rica's Rainy Season:

During the last quarter of the year, rainfall in most regions of Costa Rica is often overwhelming, especially for gardeners. However, there are robust plants that thrive even in the rain.

Here is one of my favorites: Called ayote in Spanish, Cucurbita maxima is the squash squash native to tropical America. These hardy native plants were grown here by local tribes long before the arrival of Europeans and are still one of the region's most important staple crops. They are resistant to insect attacks and plant diseases and can be easily grown in the home garden.

Many gardeners, including myself, have had bad luck growing zucchini, yellow crookneck squash, and other northern squash varieties here in the tropics. But we've found that the young, juicy, native tropical pumpkins taste just as good as the northern varieties.

Here are some tips for growing your own Ayotes at home. You can buy ayotes at most local markets and the seeds they contain are great for planting. Just dry them in the sun for a day or two and you're ready to plant them.

Prepare a hole about 1 meter in diameter and 30 to 40 centimeters deep. Into this hole place a wheelbarrow load of rich, aged compost enriched with two shovels of ash. Now plant two Ayote seeds in the center, about 5cm deep and 30cm apart. Areas where brush and leaves are burned are ideal places to plant ayotes.

Keep the young plants weed-free. When the ayote plants begin to cover the area, begin pruning the front tips of the vines. (Incidentally, the locals taught us to prepare these tender tendrils for a spinach-like vegetable dish called “”) quelites de ayote.) Pruning your Ayote plant helps keep it compact and also stimulates flowering and production of squash.

As the plant begins to produce its pretty, bright yellow flowers, keep a close eye on the production of the tender young pumpkins. Begin harvesting when they reach the size of a small melon. At this point they are as delicious as zucchini. For seed production, allow others to mature to their full size and use as mature pumpkins.

You will find that an Ayote plant can produce for several months, providing an abundance of delicious meals for the family.