Topic: Best squash

[1066]

Jeannines list you quoted is varietys not familys
lbb

Exactly - I'm totally confused as to which belongs to which!!!!!!!!!??????????

[littlebabybird]

ok which do you want to grow and
do you want to save seeds from your fruits?

[1066]

Tulipa - I think I found the post - called Gourds & Squash Difference -

http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,35076.0.html
(hope it works)

LBB - trying lots of different varieties, and as it turns out Families this year  ;D partly for fun and partly to figure out which ones I kike for taste etc. As we have a lottie and the garden we have a fair bit of room and was going to try 2/3 seeds of each -
Cornell's Bush Delicata and Little Gem Rollet (did these last year as well
Burgess Buttercup - Maxima family?
Queensland Blue - ?
Small Sugar - ?
Crown Prince ?
Yellow Scallop - Pepo family
Anna Swartz Hubbard - Maxima family?
Zucca Marina Di Choggia - ?
Blue Kuri - Mixta family?

So I'm going to be busy! And loads to learn about a really interesting veggie
Thanks
1066

[littlebabybird]

1066 sorry to bug you about this but are you going to be saving your seeds?
lbb

[1066]

No probs lbb - I appreciate all the help I can get!
The seeds I have this year are shop bought, but yes I would like to try and save some seeds for next year. I guess its all about cross pollination then? So how far apart should "family groups" be planted?
Sooooo much to learn and not enough brain power today!
1066

[Kea]

Personally I think you're making the right choice growing the Burgess. Buttercups have the best flavour and texture (superior to Crown Prince which i consider 2nd best). I grow them and they will store to May if you haven't eaten them by then. Obviously some won't make it and you need to check and use any looking like they're going off first.

[1066]

Thanks for the thumbs up Kea I'm looking forward to growing some tasty pupkins this year!

OK – after loads of searching and reading I think I’ve figured out the families that the squash / pumpkins I plan to grow belong to, all except 1 Little Gem Rolet  - Any ideas people? I will be growing a mixture of pepo and maxima in both the garden and on the allotment. If I want to save some seeds for next year I presume I can’t grow plants from the same families in close proximity. Does anyone know the distances needed between them to prevent cross pollination (none of the ones I will grow are F1s? Or should I give up on the idea of trying to save seed this year and concentrate on working out which ones I like and then can start with fresh seed and fewer varieties (and mixture of families!) next year?
Thanks