Cucurbita ficifolia aka Asian Pumpkin

Cucurbita ficifolia is the fig-leaf gourd, or Malabar gourd. This squash belongs to the cucumber family, Cucurbitaceae. Kew gives its native range as Peru to Bolivia. Growers raise it for food beyond its native range. These areas include Mexico, Central America, California, and Spain. Most garden sources treat it as an annual vine. Useful Tropical Plants describes a short-lived perennial with yearly shoots.

The vine grows fast and climbs with tendrils. Its green stems can also trail across the ground. Published heights range from 7–33 feet [2–10 metres]. Useful Tropical Plants reports extreme shoots of 82 feet [25 metres]. These figures measure different aspects of its climbing growth. Give the plant room to spread or climb a trellis. Its large, green leaves have lobes like fig leaves. They grow in an alternate pattern and feel soft. Each leaf can exceed 0.5 feet [0.15 metres] across.

Yellow flowers open from early summer into early fall. Each plant bears separate male and female flowers. Insects pollinate them, and the species is self-fertile. The flowers grow singly and have a funnel-like shape. Fruits range from round to oval, with green-and-white markings. Their hard rind surrounds white flesh and black seeds. The fruit is a pepo, a berry with a firm rind. Mature fruits can keep for two years or more. Their flesh grows sweeter during storage.

Grow it in full sun and rich, well-drained soil. It prefers moist soil, though it tolerates poorer ground. Sources list clay, loam, sand, and chalk as suitable. It accepts acid, neutral, and alkaline soil. North Carolina State also reports tolerance of partial shade. RHS recommends a warm, sheltered site and spring sowing indoors. Harden plants off before planting outside in June in Britain. No pruning is needed. RHS rates it H2, so it will not survive freezing. North Carolina State lists USDA zones 9–11.

The vine suits food gardens and planted arches or trellises. Cooks use the fruit in soups, curries, jam, and sweets. Seeds yield edible oil and can be roasted or eaten raw. The leaves, stems, and flowers are also edible. People can use the hard fruit shells as containers. Traditional medicine uses the seeds against intestinal worms. Slugs, snails, grey mould, and powdery mildew may cause problems. ASPCA lists it as non-toxic to cats, dogs, and horses. Yet RHS warns against eating bitter crops or feeding them to pets. PFAF also warns that sprouting seeds contain a toxic substance.