Pumpkins

[Robert_Brenchley]

Does anyone know where I could get seeds of a really meaty pumkin variety?

[Robert_Brenchley]

[Doris_Pinks]

Robert, Rouge Vif D'etampes worked well for me, would offer you some of my seeds but they were in with all my other squashes etc. So will not necessarily be true. You can get them from the Organic Gardening catalogue for one choice.
http://www.organiccatalog.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_22_23_37&products_id=1196

The one that we have enjoyed too came from Moggle, called Queensland Blue, is a squash but was enormous!! Great taste, and very meaty! If you want some seeds I have saved some, they may run true as they were on a patch all by themselves! ;D
"Queensland Blue;(5) Buttercup type,blue/green fruit,nutty flavour,thick flesh. "

On this Pic, furthest right at the back is Rouge Vif, next to them at the back on the left are the Queensland Blues.

http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/yabbse/index.php/topic,14371.0.html

DP

[Robert_Brenchley]

I'll give them a try, thanks. I'm tired of having my pumpkins rejected as 'waterish'.

[adrianhumph]

Hi all,  :D
              I`ll second the comment on crown prince, very firm  & tasty flesh  ;D
trouble is they are SO BIG  ::)  Mine were all above 4 kilos, so dealing with them is a bit tricky. Perhaps this should be on the recipe bit , but I cut mine into wedges (thats the hard part) roast them for about 45 mins, then remove the skin, put some in the freezer for later use, turn some into soup & make a gratin with the rest  ::)
Just as tasty & easier as they are smaller were blue kuri, these weigh in at about i kilo.
                       Adrian.

[djbrenton]

The west indian gardeners on our site say that all the pumpkins we grow here are watery which is why they grow west indian varieties I've lots of seed if you want to try them.

[sandersj89]

I have had good results with Mars, nice orange flesh and good flavour.

Jerry

[djbrenton]

I've only had one of my west indian pumpkins to seed so far. Once I've had some other colours ( although they do cross anyway ) I'll make some mixed packs up for everyone.

[Robert_Brenchley]

That sounds like what I need, so I'd be grateful. Namissa's actually West African (never confuse the two!) but has similar tastes in pumpkins. We chop them up and put them in stew.

[djbrenton]

I'll be using the other colours in the next few weeks. Keep your eyes open for a 'west indian pumpkin' thread on seed swaps once I've dried the seeds.

[real food]

Try the smaller winter squash. Red Kuri, First taste, Winter festival are all excellent and mature quickly in our climate. I would be wary of West Indian varieties anywhere north of Watford. Winter Squash need to be fully ripended to get the flesh sweet and dry, and a low number of days to maturity, is vital to achieve this.
The only seed catalogue where I have seen this vital information quoted is Seeds of Distinction at www.plantsofdistinction.co.uk They also give the no of days to maturity for peppers and tomatoes.

[djbrenton]

I must say that all the West Indians at our site ( well north of watford) grow large pumpkins and reckon they're just as good as the ones at home.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Part of my problem is that the old order on my site was decidedly racist; ethnic minorities didn't get plots and those in mixed marriages had problems and usually didn't last long. That hasn't had time to correct itself yet so there's nobody to ask.

[djbrenton]

Even a lot of the old guard here have fallen under the spell of calaloo now. One of the Jamaicans provides everyone with plants in exchange for tomato/chilli/pepper plants.

[redimp]

Is there anywhere that I can get some Carribean squash seeds from please?

[BAGGY]

I fancied trying calaloo.  Saw it on Hugh F.W's programme and it seems like a change to spinach.  My MIL also cooks something called thumba or something like that.  It is also a leaf that is mixed in with lentil curry to wilt.  She was going to get me some seeds from abroad but I am not sure if you can bring them in.  There are no people on our site from other countries which is a real shame.  I would love to see what they grow that is different from uk stuff.  Also their methods of growing might differ from ours - possibly more efficient ?

[Derekthefox]

Redclanger - the Caribbean ?

Derekthefox ;D

[MikeB]

Baggy, I ordered my tomato seeds from America this year and they were delivered OK

MikeB

[BAGGY]

Hmmm ...... now there's a thought.  I think the ones she was going to get me were from a relative collectedin the wild so to speak.  Prob best not as they might get stopped at customs thinking they were something dodgy  :o

[Robert_Brenchley]

If you want to know what Sierra Leoneans eat, just ask! Chili, palm oil, more chili, dried fish, chili, potato leaves (that's sweet potato), yet more chili, cassava leaves, chili, okra, still more chili...

[Derekthefox]

I think I could like that diet ...

Derekthefox :D