西(xi)葫(hu)蘆(lu)又稱(cheng)美洲南瓜(gua)、西(xi)洋南瓜(gua)、夏(xia)南瓜(gua)、攪瓜(gua)或(huo)美國(guo)南瓜(gua)。它(ta)是葫(hu)蘆(lu)科、南瓜(gua)屬，一(yi)年生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)草本，瓜(gua)類蔬(shu)菜。以(yi)果(guo)實供(gong)(gong)食用。按植株性狀(zhuang)西(xi)葫(hu)蘆(lu)分三類：矮生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)、半(ban)蔓(man)(man)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)或(huo)蔓(man)(man)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)；按生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)長期分早(zao)、中、晚(wan)熟(shu)三種(zhong)(zhong)。一(yi)般矮生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)種(zhong)(zhong)為(wei)早(zao)熟(shu)；半(ban)蔓(man)(man)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)為(wei)中熟(shu)；蔓(man)(man)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)為(wei)晚(wan)熟(shu)。早(zao)熟(shu)和中熟(shu)種(zhong)(zhong)，5月至6月采收上(shang)市；晚(wan)熟(shu)種(zhong)(zhong)供(gong)(gong)應(ying)秋(qiu)季市場。保護地(di)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)產可以(yi)供(gong)(gong)應(ying)冬春市場。

（一）采收要求

西葫蘆以嫩(nen)瓜為(wei)食的，一般(ban)花謝后7―9天采(cai)收，瓜長20厘米左右，每個瓜重(zhong)0.25―0.5千克。也可(ke)在種(zhong)子未硬(ying)(ying)前采(cai)收，瓜重(zhong)1―2千克。食用老熟瓜時，外(wai)皮變硬(ying)(ying)、種(zhong)子變硬(ying)(ying)才可(ke)采(cai)收。

（二）貯藏特性及貯運方法

西葫蘆老熟瓜(gua)較耐貯(zhu)運。參(can)見南(nan)瓜(gua)。適宜的貯(zhu)藏(zang)溫度(du)10―15℃，相對濕度(du)：70%―75%，在此條件下可(ke)貯(zhu)藏(zang)2―3個月。

（三）上市質量標準

果實端正，色澤鮮(xian)艷，無腐爛、損傷；筐裝(zhuang)。