TURKS TURBAN

[betula]

I put some seeds in pots afew days ago.

Any advice on how to care for these please :)

[betula]

[markfield rover]

As in Turks Turban squash? If so then ,the same as any other squash  or at least that is how I grew them  and we still have two left,they have stored the longest.

[betula]

Yes I have never grown squash before and I was wondering how long it takes them to germinate,I know it is best to grow them in lots of manure,When is the best time to put them outside.

Should I cover the pots till they germinate and what is the best temp for them?

[markfield rover]

Where is Jeannine when you want her? If I will do for now, I do not put the plants on the plot until  the first week in June, when you could direct sow ,but I work back thinking that it will take 4\5 weeks to get a good plant so I sow indoors last week of April somewhere warm they germinate quite quick after 2\3 weeks if they look okay I put them into the cold greenhouse but still with an eye to frosts
then a week before  planting out they go outside in garden somewhere sheltered then it's every man for himself.Hope this helps!

[Vortex]

In a propagator or on a warm window sill should germinate in 7-10 days.  I grew these last year and am using up the remainder of the seed this. So far have managed to germinate 2 out of 10.
Only managed to get two squashes off the plants last year and both ended up rotting. Whats the secret to storing these.

[Jeannine]

Hi Markfield Rover is absolutely right with the growing times etc.

Turks Turban is a lovely squash to look at,  weight about 5/6 pounds.

Imagine a cottage loaf, one round loaf with a smaller round loaf on top, the bottom part is usually orange with minor stripes and the top   orange with deep cream stripes splashed with green.It had a band around where the two "loaves join.

Flesh is brilliant orange.

It is classed as an ornamental but it can be eaten, it's flesh is floury, a little sweet , but poor on taste compared to many others.

I do grow it  because it is very pretty but like the Jack o Lantern pumpkins I would not eat it unless it was all I had.

In soup it would be OK but for me it lacks the flavour I want in a steamed or baked squash.

It stores quite well, much better on it's side by the way which is odd as squash go. Store in a cool but not frosty place preferably not touching. Mine are in a cool shed on slatted shelves, leave a stalk on them to prevent bacteris betting in the wound, wash them in 10-1 bleach  solution and dry. They will not store if not fully mature.

Grow them like any winter squash, don't be in a hurry to put them out until the weather is reliable warm. It needs a long growing season to achieve the full colours seen at maturity.

Enjoy, they are a neat squash

[betula]

Thanks everyone for your help.

Jeannine should I keep the pots covered till they germinate?

[Jeannine]

Yes if you can and in a warm place, XX Jeannine

[betula]

Still no sign of germination.

Do you think I should scrap them and start again.?

They have been in a warm room.

[markfield rover]

Try and have a look at the seed ,they do rot easy ,did you sow them on their sides? Still plenty of time to sow again.

[Plot69]

Sorry if I'm hijacking but while Jeannine is paying attention...

I bought a packet of mixed summer squash and I have some Yello Pati and green Pati's. What the hell do I do with them, in a culinary sense I mean?

I've been told they take hours and hours to cook and still stay hard.

[markfield rover]

Until Jeannine gets here,
Do you mean patty pans? if so then cook them as you would a cougette, great raw too!
If not patty pans ,I'll get me coat.

[Plot69]

Until Jeannine gets here,
Do you mean patty pans? if so then cook them as you would a cougette, great raw too!
If not patty pans ,I'll get me coat.

Yes sorry, they are Patty Pans. I just wrote green pati and yellow pati on the labels when I sowed them and that's what I've been calling them ever since.

We can but try them, nothing ventured and all that. I bought a 99p butternut squash from Morrisons last year just to see what it tasted like, I'm devoting  a full half plot to them this year.

Thank you. And again sorry to Betula for highjacking the thread.

[markfield rover]

Plot69 forgot to say with p'ps pick them when small.Unlike butter nuts they do not store.Yummy tho'

[Plot69]

Plot69 forgot to say with p'ps pick them when small.Unlike butter nuts they do not store.Yummy tho'

Thank you very much, duly noted.

[annppayne]

Jeanine

I was interested to see your comments about the tastiness or otherwise of various squashes.

My crop of squashes was very poor last year, but am trying again this year.    So far have butternut, turks turban, queensland blue and jack o'lantern underway.   Not sure which squashes are best for which dishes.   

Do you or other allotmenteers have any advice please.

[markfield rover]

I tend to use the said squashes  as soup or a stuffing for pasta. I think if you do a search on here you will be awash with ideas.

[betula]

Well after taking your advice I removed the seeds and one was rotton.

Made sure the others were on their sides.

Got up this morning and one has germinated.HOORAY.

Very poor germination rate, think I will buy a new packet of seeds. :)