The plant family Cucurbitaceae, also known as "cucurbits," consists of various squashes, melons, gourds, cucumbers, and pumpkins. This handbook contains information on cultural practices, nutrition, and physiological processes of cucurbits under both normal and stressful conditions. It presents the history and importance of cucurbit crop production as well as exhaustive information on growth responses of cucurbits to various environmental conditions and nutrients. Several chapters cover the growth responses of cucurbits to numerous abiotic stresses and the beneficial effects of stress.