Allotments 4 All

Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: bison1947 on July 31, 2006, 21:40:36

Title: What Are They
Post by: bison1947 on July 31, 2006, 21:40:36
Another allotment holder gave me some seeds which i sowed
& then planted out.
The seed packet was from Spain and the only thing that i can
translate from it is the word Pumpkin.
So any ideas

(http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/2803/sqush1fk6.jpg)

(http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/8981/squash2jt2.jpg)

Bill....
Title: Re: What Are They
Post by: katynewbie on July 31, 2006, 21:43:06
 :-[

Lovely! That's what they are!

Sorry, someone sensible is bound to know...
Title: Re: What Are They
Post by: saddad on July 31, 2006, 21:51:59
They are both familiar, esp the two-tone one... if nobdy comes up with an ID I'll resort to the books for you...
:)
Title: Re: What Are They
Post by: lin on August 01, 2006, 00:36:17
I grew those last year, not sure what they are called though, I am sure they came up in a batch from a packet of "ornamental gourds"!

Not sure if they are edible, I didn't try to eat any of the ornamentals I grew I just let them dry out and used them as lovely decorations in bowls round the house in the autumn!

Linda
Title: Re: What Are They
Post by: saddad on August 01, 2006, 07:25:00
That's definitely where I've seen the two tone one... the other looks like a crook neck..
;D
Title: Re: What Are They
Post by: PurpleHeather on August 01, 2006, 07:38:37
Hi

you have grown decorative gourds.

They are not edible but last about six months in a fruit dish, on display. There are several types, with stripes nobbly bits and a range of colours from yellow pear shaped ones to green and white balls.

Some people dress them up for christmas decorations. A bit of glitter and tinsel. Quite attractive and cheap.

Your local florist may welcome donations for decorative use (they may even be interested in buying them from you).

The biggest problem is that they take over where ever you plant them and the plant has some prickly bits that can give a nasty scratch.

If you want to grow again, simply use the seed from your pickings, they are great for covering an ugly patch of land.
Title: Re: What Are They
Post by: ugly gourd on August 01, 2006, 08:27:53
Yes they are defiantly distant relatives of mine WE get everywhere !!
I grow these every year to tumble over the fence at the top of my plot where a public footpath is they are quite a talking point at the end of the season  I harvest them keep some give some to friends and the remainder go to the day care centre where I work for our open day people buy them for £1 each Must go now and tell my sister good gourd we've got relatives in Spain to put on the family tree