Allotments 4 All
Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: 1066 on July 18, 2011, 15:01:24
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Hi
its the 1st time I'm growing these, one of those 50p bargains from the Wyevale seed sale. Anyhoo, I noticed the plant that I have labelled up as serpente di sicilia has white-creamy flowers, which seem unusual as most squash/courgettes are bright yellow. Is this normal ? ;D
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Yes Ten, white flowers are normal.
How are you growing it, climbing?
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thanks cat woman ;D And yes I've got it growing up some netting, but think I'll have to start weaving it in as the netting isn't very high ::)
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Flowers are the best bit.
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Flowers are the best bit.
True, and also that they make quite a nice screen. The snakes themselves are not really worth bothering with, unless you grow them for a 'Longest Snake' competition like we did one year.
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:o :o :o
so I should just sit back and enjoy the flowers then :-X Also looks like I need to put some more netting/stakes in!!
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OMG!!! I am growing one of these!!! But I thought it was just a normal courgette! I was wondering why it was starting to make a vine! I think I had better put a stake on it and tie it up! Is it really inedible? Surely not. Should you eat it as a tender squash or let it mature?
I found that the flowers are odd - they are on a huge stem, about 15cm long! With the flower at the end.
Seems like I made crap squash choices this year, as I am also growing Turks Turban which has loads of fruit! But opinion differs - someone told me it was a very good eater, others seem to disagree. (Then again I LIKE moneymaker tomatoes so maybe I have odd taste!!)
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how unusual never saw one like it in my life must get some seeds for next year itll amuse the grand kids iam :growing snakes ;D also some of my squashes /pumpkins is flowering creamy but lost label but will find when the fruit gets bigger
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Antipodes - it isn't exactly inedible, it's just that there are so many tasty courgettes available so it seems pointless growing this one.
It needs to be eaten small, like a courgette. It won't store for the winter.
My Sicilian sister-in-law grows it for the ends of the shoots which she uses in a kind of soup. Maybe they do it in France too?
I've grown Turks Turban in the past but I had great difficulty in actually getting through the skin, it was rock-hard! They are very decorative though. ;)
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Antipodes - it isn't exactly inedible, it's just that there are so many tasty courgettes available so it seems pointless growing this one.
It needs to be eaten small, like a courgette. It won't store for the winter.
OK noted. Trouble is I like all squashes! So I guess I will eat it anyway! I have some striped Italian ones growing too that have a really nice flavour.
My Sicilian sister-in-law grows it for the ends of the shoots which she uses in a kind of soup. Maybe they do it in France too?
Never seen this veg here! The French are a bit conservative with veg, although posh restaurants are known to serve fried courgette flowers, stuffed. Round courgettes are available here but they are seen as a bit of an oddity.
I've grown Turks Turban in the past but I had great difficulty in actually getting through the skin, it was rock-hard! They are very decorative though. ;)
Oh since I grew up on Queensland Blue and Jarrahdale pumpkins, that's no worry for me! I'll get out the Crocodile Dundee knife! ("That's not a pumpkin - (brings out massive blue rockhard thing) - THAT's a pumpkin!")
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how unusual never saw one like it in my life must get some seeds for next year itll amuse the grand kids iam :growing snakes ;D also some of my squashes /pumpkins is flowering creamy but lost label but will find when the fruit gets bigger
I have plenty left in the packet so could send you some if you like? ;D
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i would love it ,if you could i love unusual plants of any kind and all quirky things Lil
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Great, pm me your addy :)
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I found serpente di sicilia slightly distasteful. If you want something unusual but also very tasty I would suggest putting your effort into Tromba di Albenga. It is great small but also a good keeper, just found one from last year I had forgetten to eat.
They are easier to germinate, produce lots of lovely fruits for me a real star turn.
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Oh good cos I'm growing 1 of those as well ;D It's looking good at the moment, will it climb?
The Wyevale 50p sale was a great treat last year, also trying Rugosa Fruilana as well.....
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It is actually a gourd, hence the white flowers and it is edible, the secret is to use it when very immature, if left to get to it's mature size it is only good for decoration. The skin at maturity will cure a bit so makes super snakes which can be painted..so it has a few uses.
Jeannine
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could it be painted and used as a novelty ;pumpkin at halloween the grand kids would love that
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Yes,but grow them on the ground instead of up a trellis, they will grow cooiled like snakes and look fantastic painted. I have a picture somewhere.
XX Jeannine
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Oh good cos I'm growing 1 of those as well ;D It's looking good at the moment, will it climb?
The Wyevale 50p sale was a great treat last year, also trying Rugosa Fruilana as well.....
Tromba is really nice Ten and will store for the winter. I grow that as a climber too.
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Modelled by my brother-in-law ;)
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Rugosa Friulana are one of my favourite courgettes. The flesh is quite dense, a bit like avocado in texture. Have you picked any yet?
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i have never seen any thing like those before and jeannine did you paint those in the picture love them ;D ;D
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Fantastic info, as ever from A4Aers :)
So, that explains the white flowers, thanks Jeannine. Think I'll let it grow over it's netting for now and then the other side and let it ramble :) But think I'll put in some more props. My friend's little girl will love painting a squash. And to be honest I think I will enjoy helping her ;D
Cat Lady - thanks for the photos, tell your BIL the Tromba suits him :D
Here's mine the other week
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My darling OH has already commented that it looks like a Horses _____ ! ::) I think it will be a "talking point" on our plots this summer ::)
I haven't tried the Rugosa, yet. I picked one the other day, and we were meant to eat it last night but ended up going out. So maybe tonight.
I ate the 1st Crookneck the other day, and it was delicious, impressed by the taste and texture of that, and I can see what you mean about Avocado in terms of texture
squash are fun 8)
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No I didn't paint the ones in the picture, that picture was originally off a seed packet but it is used all over the net now.
There are some stunning pictures on the net but many won't copy so you will have to google.
Have fun.
I agree they do look like horses whatsits, try letting them hang down till they get some length then lay the fruit on a board it really gets itself in a knot sometimes then..it doesn,t always work but it is fun making them weird.
...and we need pictures at the end of the year.
XX Jeannine
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I had a couple of Tromba climbing up canes a couple of years ago and at one stage provided quite a talking point and a lot of giggles.
Heres one from my gallery, this years are not yet this size, mostly because I keep eating them
I like the idea of painting them.
(http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/gallery/9388_14_08_09_2_46_27.jpg)
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Digeroo, how young do you eat them?
Here's the flowers from the Serpenete di sicilia the other day
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Oh yes, my flowers are exactly like that! They are beautiful! I am going to try eating the squash young, I must say that they look quite tasty in Digeroo's picture. Maybe I will leave a couple to grow and cure as decoratives at the end of the season ;)
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Don`t mix up the two.
Serpente di Sicilioa is a the gourd, Tromba aka Trombicona is not. Tromba is a wonderful tasting squash, a dual purpose one , can be eaten immature as a summer squash but will keep if mature, Serpents is edible if eaten very immature only after that it iis usually used as decorative.
They are very different.
XX Jeannine
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I've just found "Trombolino" in the organic catalogue- sounds similar description.
Does any trombo.... do the same thing?
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Trombo, Tromba,Trombicino,Trombicona,Trombolino etc etc is a squash that is known by many names depending on the country, but it is not the same as Serpente di Sicilia.
It is dual purpose .
If trained up a trellis it will hang down and grow quite straight and get get three feet if left on the ground it will curl, just the same as Serpente Di Sicilia, but the taste is far superior.
XX Jeannine
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Thanks Jeannine :) I will add to next years must grow list then! I'll grow both ways to see how it does ;)
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Betty - I love the idea of your longest snake competition- do you mind if I copy the idea for our site next year?
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Betty - I love the idea of your longest snake competition- do you mind if I copy the idea for our site next year?
No problem Anne, good luck with it!
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Wonderful idea ,, we need pictures.
XX Jeanniine
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Oh I am rather disappointed to hear that it is decorative! I usually only grow stuff you can eat! And they are the healthiest looking plants in the garden too. I will try them as baby squash anyway and see what they taste like! Mine is covered in flowers...