Squash prices - gobsmacked!

[Suzanne]

I went to the florist on the way home to pick up some flowers - mine had it on the lottie frozen to a pulp. Anyway as part of their display they had Turks Turban - mini size ones, Jack be Little and another one about the same size as the Jacks but very colourful skins.

They were being sold as specimens for flower arranging and were priced £2.99 each. Couldn't believe it (trying not to be too Meldrew like. I got 15 Jacks off one plant this year - if I hadn't eaten them I could have made a small fortune.  :o

Next year deffo a market stall - but for flower arrangers!

[Suzanne]

[manicscousers]

and to think people actually pay that  :o :o

[Suzanne]

I know I begrudged the £1.99 for gladies, mums and dahlias when you can grow loads from bulbs and saved tubers.

[kt.]

My OH has asked me to try my hand at growing Butternut Squash from next year. Tesco charge £1.75 EACH! :o     Harrier F1 and Avalon F1 are now on my seed list.

[saddad]

But if you just want cheap pulp for soup this is a good week to get those reduced to clear after Haloween...  ;D

[Kea]

When my local Waitrose first started stocking Kabouca Squash (Listed as mixed squash so that covers the others they sell) the price was about £2-99 a Kg.
It's come down a bit e.g http://www.waitrosedeliver.com/wdeliver/servlet/JSPs/shop/display_ind_fs.jsp?line_number=472518&prrfnbr=297002

Still they are worth growing, as long as you have a good year. Must add up the value of this years crop.

[honeybee]

BNS are usually just short of two quid a piece but Aldi have got them on at 69p this week apparently, which is a great price.

[louise stella]

I grew BNS this year as usual - they were small due to the rotten weather - but tasty!  Well worth growing - especially if you have some protection for them.  I also grow other squashes and they all did very well.

I just don't "buy in " to "trendy" veg at all - most are easy to grow, so I grow what I can in season and avoid buying them overpriced in the shops when they are out of season!

Louise

[angle shades]

 :) I grow Celebration, Harliquin and Crown Prince squashes,

and they are all for sale in Morrison's, price ranges from 99p to £1.39/ shades x

[saddad]

Didn't grow any Crown prince this year... the old seed didn't germinate, might just have to nip back out and cross town, will wait until the rush hour is over...
;D

[Bubbly Berry]

Defending Florists !!!!!
As a florist, we have had a huge demand this year for squashes at Halloween, trying to source a uk grower is hard to say the least, and i live in Lincolnshire, the only answer for most florists is to use the dutch flower guys hence the prices you have seen, fuel costs are the main problem buying from dutchflower men and this is reflected in the costs you have seen .

[Suzanne]

Not knocking florists - but just thinking I don't mind being a supplier of unusual squash and gourds for floral autumn arrangements. My second plot is privately rented and has no "selling produce" restrictions.

[PurpleHeather]

The price of fruit and vegetables all together frightens me when I grow my own.

I will say  that Aldi and Liddl often have much cheaper stock, or at least selected items which are on offer at much lower prices.

After the supermarkets managed to price local small retailers out of business their prices shot up. Or am I the only one who has noticed that we no longer have village bakers, greengrocers and butchers shops out side of the supermarkets?

[shirlton]

My peppers were a disaster this year but Aldi are selling them at 69 per pack. Probably not as good as some folks grow but a lot better than mine that I ain't got