bush pumpkins

[laura G]

Hi, does anyone know of any bush/ compact pumpkins that would be good for primary school children to grow?
Thanks Laura

[laura G]

[Dandytown]

More a courgette than a pumpkin but there are pattypan squashes which are relatively compact bushes.  They come in white, green and yellow and look like flying saucers.  Taste good too.

With regards to bush type pumpkins I wouldn't be able to tell you until the end of the summer  :)

[poppie1]

hi laura,
we grew some pattypan last year at our primary school,have some seeds saved from them(now where did i put them?)
if you would like some pm me your details and i'll send some out

[1066]

Hi laura, I've grown festival and hooligan, both bush varieties, they produce lots of pumpkins, and are lovely colours

1066  :)

[realfood]

I would not describe festival or Hooligan as bush, but as semi -trailing. The only true bush type that I have come across is Gold Nugget.

[Digeroo]

Summerball are a round courgette/pumpkin not trailing but huge plants none the less.

[Jeannine]

Most pumpkins have long vines however Racer has shorter than usual ones  but certainly not bush,Little October is a compact plant but again not truly bush,Neon is a semi  bush

If you go to winter squash, many of which are interesting some do have bush habits. eg.

Honey Bear Acorn is a compact bush so is Mesa Queen Acorn
Orange Summer is a Kuri variety, orange like a pumpkin and is bush..
There is a bush Delicata

Sunshine is a short vine ,Carnival is semi bush.

If you go to the summer squash. most of which are bush you have a great choice for colour and shape. They also produce many more fruit and harvest time is much sooner eg.

Zepher is yellow but looks as of it,s end has been dipped in a green paint pot,
Yellow Crookneck is all warty
Flying saucers are two tone green and yellow,flower shaped with quite prominent points .
Starship is green with pale white lines shaped like a spaceship
Sunburst is a yellow spaceship one
Eightball,Floridor and Geode are green, yellow and light green

You might consider a mixed Gourd Collection..sold as Goblin Eggs they come all shapes and sizes, some are quite weird looking,these are an excellent choice for gardening with children.
Gremlins is another mix that are fun all full of warts!!

Personally having gardened with school children  I would go with the summer squash if they want toi eat their produce or the gourd mix if not.

XX Jeannine

[manicscousers]

The children from our schools have just sowed some seed from Jeannine, thank you.
Baby blue hubbard, baby green hubbard and jack be little, we're going to train them up trellis, they're very excited as, with the long school holidays, they'll be back at school when they pumpkins are ready  ;D

[Robert_Brenchley]

Schools may be better off with winter squash, as they can be planted before the summer holidays, to ripen when the kids are back at school.

[Jeannine]

In my lost of yesterday I forgot the most obvious one, a winter squash but it is round and deep orange. Gold Nugget. Grows to about 1 1/2 lb  is definatly a bush type and you should get about 6 to a plant.

It would be my first choice if you wish something orange and round

XX Jeannine