Potimarron

[antsinmipants]

Anyone grown these before? I know they are part of the squash family and thats about it. Thank you for your time :)

[antsinmipants]

[Spudbash]

No, I'm just growing them for the first time.

Oh, and thank you for your politeness.  ;D

[1066]

Yes - for the 1st time last year. They didn't do as well as others, so I'm trying them again. I've eaten them many times when in France, but I want to grow my own  :)

[manicscousers]

yes, from seed someone on here sent me, lovely taste  :)

[antipodes]

They are popular here in France, very tasty flesh, I have never managed to grow them myself though.

[antsinmipants]

No, I'm just growing them for the first time.

Oh, and thank you for your politeness.  ;D

You are more than welcome to my politeness.  :D :D :D

[Jeannine]

You have good taste!!

One of my favourites.  Mine went out to their final place just yesterday.

Lovely taste, a bit like chestnuts..hence the name  (marron French for chestnut) and it really is.

It is a good managable size at about 4 pounds, it  is a really good keeper. Look for a pear shaped fruit which will eventually turn deep rich orange. Not one of the latest to mature but not early either, about 85 days from transplant if you get a decent summer.

Oh and it is a maxima squash by the way, so if you don't grow any other maximas nearby you will be able to save seeds. If you are growing courgettes you are safe, they are pepos.

Good luck, you will certainly enjoy them

XX Jeannine

[antsinmipants]

You have good taste!!

One of my favourites.  Mine went out to their final place just yesterday.

Lovely taste, a bit like chestnuts..hence the name  (marron French for chestnut) and it really is.

It is a good managable size at about 4 pounds, it  is a really good keeper. Look for a pear shaped fruit which will eventually turn deep rich orange. Not one of the latest to mature but not early either, about 85 days from transplant if you get a decent summer.

Oh and it is a maxima squash by the way, so if you don't grow any other maximas nearby you will be able to save seeds. If you are growing courgettes you are safe, they are pepos.

Good luck, you will certainly enjoy them

XX Jeannine

Thank-you for your really informative answer :) I'm looking forward to the harvest even more now!

[Jeannine]

Just as an afterthought. Leave them on the vine till the foliage has withered away uinless you have a frost in which case pull them. Wipe them down with a mild solution of bleach and water which will kill off any mildew spores.  Don't store them in too warm a place but don't let them freeze. They will last a long time. If you can keep them in a warm place, outside in the sun is best to cure them befor storage. When the rind is really hard, eg if your finger nail doesn't penetrate, they are fully cured. If you have to pullthem early due to frost and some are immature use them as summer squash, even if they are tiny they will be good. Also with winter squash the true taste doesn't devel op until they have been stored a few weeks so don't be in a hurry to use them as soon as you pick them.

XX Jeannine