Squash

[thifasmom]

Squash63 really nice photos, how do you know when they are ripe or are they an autumn harvest crop where you harvest them all at a certain time?

[thifasmom]

[shirlton]

Have had a look at the snake ones but if they aren't very good to eat I won't be growing them. What is the round green one Betty

[Squash63]

Squash63 really nice photos, how do you know when they are ripe or are they an autumn harvest crop where you harvest them all at a certain time?

All except the Snakes are winter squash.  The Snakes might be okay to eat if they are picked fairly small, but we grew them for a 'Longest Snake' competition so they were past their best when they were picked.

[Squash63]

Have had a look at the snake ones but if they aren't very good to eat I won't be growing them. What is the round green one Betty

The Snakes aren't bad if they are picked courgette size, it's a matter of taste and there are so many squash which are better.
I can't remember what the round green one was now, should have labelled the photo, sorry.

[realfood]

Last year, I grew the following quick maturing varieties successfully in Glasgow during a dull, wet and cold Summer. Suggested varieties of Winter Squash are

Festival F1. This is a very quick maturing variety that carries several, sweet tasting, small, pretty squashes. Each one is the right size for a family meal, some 1 kg, and could also be readily stuffed and then microwaved. It is very good for storing and will regularly store into the next Summer.

Red Kuri or Uchiki Kuri. There is some dispute in the seed catalogues as to whether these are different names for the same variety or two different cultivars of the same variety. Red Kuri may be a redder cultivar. In any event, they are quick maturing with a good flavour, weighing about 1.3 kg each. Only stored to Feb.

Crown Prince F1. This is very tasty, having large blue/grey fruits each about 4 kg, and should store well into spring. This was the best variety for me last year, taking into account taste, useable flesh and keeping quality. Still solid.

Bonbon F1.  This one came top in a recent independent taste test with a dry, nutty taste. Each fruit weighs about 2 kg and should store into the Winter. This variety only stored till midwinter.

There is more information and photos on my web site if you follow the link.