I would like to have a go at growing either Crown Prince or Queensland Blue squashes (or both even) this year, but the Organic Gardening catalogue doesn't stock them. Any ideas where I might get seed?
Mr Salad
Association Kokopelli (http://www.organicseedsonline.com) stocks Queensland Blue.
I don't know where to get crown prince, isn't that an F1?
You could also try http://www.simpsonsseeds.co.uk as they do quite a selection of them.
They also do plantlets, and given last year's poor germination rates of all things squashy, I'm tempted to go down that route.
wardy, my 2nd bedroom is the home for squash, sausages, pickled herring, Xmas cake, a ham and various vegetables. We call it the cold room because it's so cold. So my visitors luxuriate on the kitchen and bathroom floor ;D well, it's important to get priorities right 8)
I agree very much with you wardy, on the Crown Prince, very reliable and tasty, and I wasn't really much into squashes until this year. I only got a few though, but next year will do more.
Have similar problem with storage - not enought airy and cool - am considering some sort of structure like an old fashioned meat safe?? I've seen mesh in B&Q, maybe if I sort of do a wooden cupboard, screwed against house wall and insulated on all sides bar the one with the mesh, it might be ok for squashes. If I can get hold of the drill, ;D (surreptitiously) I might have a go.
Sarah - any visitors I have get consigned to this office - being on the top floor its the warmest in the house, and the ground floor (which is tiny) is covered in seed trays and boxes of jars at the moment... ;D
Good luck installing a surreptitious cold store jen, how do you silence the drill if you manage to get hold of it? ::)
Cabbage, squash, apples, hams and the like enjoy dry and cold, roots like it moist and cold. So visitors are a no no in a squash bedroom, as they will make it too moist (but only if you let them breathe) and you will have to change it to a root bedroom.
All this is very reassuring! ;D i.e. not the only fruit cake on the planet.
Thanks for all this on both seeds and storage of squashes. I am pleased I am not the only one who had trouble with squash germination. I'll also think harder about how to store them next year. I have tended to go by experience (i.e. my Autumn Harvest kept until well after Easter in 2004) but have never paid much attention on where I keep them- they just sit on the fire place until we use them.