Topic: "Festival" Squash

[saddad]

I have a couple of plants growing which seem to be similar to Red Kuri... for Summer use... get to large fist size and ripen? I tend to grow large storing Winter squash but they aren't swelling... should I be cutting and using now?  :-\

[shirlton]

I had one of each of those from you Saddad. Are they summer squash or winter. The Red kuri are abot plum size and the fesival ,well the largest is about large orange size

[thifasmom]

if they are a summer squash then i would assume they would be ready when they are ready if you see what i mean. as you said the winter storing squashes will be ready from September/ October onwards but summer squash will be ready from now up till then.

lucky you my only summer squash this year is patty pan, my others all died for no particular reason, at least i have my winter squashes to look forward too.

edited

just did a search and the only festival i'm seeing are all winter varieties so they shouldn't be ready now, i suppose you could leave some on the vine to see if they get bigger ???

[shirlton]

I was hoping to leave all of mine till the courgette glut was over at least

[saddad]

So was I... but I cut them off last night as they were looking "ripe"... I was hoping I'd picked it up from you or Betty... (Shirl) so maybe it's from DebP...  ???

[shirlton]

She has a lot to answer for that DebP ;D ;D ;D

[Duke Ellington]

Just to add my little bit ....Red Kuri is a winter squash and  they should most definately be bigger than a plum ( did you really mean plum Shirlton or are you growing mega plums where you are~ if you are send me some :P) In my opinion red kuri is like a substantial handful size...smaller than a bowling ball.....larger than a tennis ball....when ripe should weight in at somewhere between 3-6 pounds .......confused you will be. It will not be ready until late autumn.

Duke :)

[saddad]

Both my festival and red kuri are that size, I've cut them and eaten some...  :-X

[Deb P]

She has a lot to answer for that DebP ;D ;D ;D

 :o :o :o Now just because your Sharks fin squash are taking over your plot.....!

Not guilty on the 'Festival' squash front, mine were either 'Sunshine' or 'Baby Boo'.... ;D ;)

[saddad]

I have the Winter Sunshine... thinking of taking the "Basket Hanger" Andy knocked up down to the Shark's fin...  :o

[Deb P]

Might as well make use of it, it will cover it in no time..... ;D

[GrannieAnnie]

I grew festival sq. last year but found the taste very bland as a winter squash so used them as Fall decorations- they were green, orange and yellow, quite pretty and gave away many since the plant was prolific.

[shirlton]

I'm not going to eat mine until they are big. They have plenty of time to get bigger. How many do you leave on the plant cos the Kuri have loads on

[realfood]

I think that all winter squash should be left on the vine to late September or early October. Only by then will they have developed their full taste and sweetness. Festival is one of my favourites for taste, sweetness and keeping qualities.

[saddad]

I'll leave the others on then...  :-[