Casey lee kindly sent me some gem squash seeds which have germinated lovely :D
My question is how to grow them up like vines. I have heard of it being done, but not sure of the method.
Anyone know how or have tried it in the past.
Thanks x
I grew Gem last year - on a trellis - and had a good crop from one plant, 7 fruit. I must add, though, I wasn't impressed as the Gem has an extremely hard skin and the flesh is quite thin. It is not one I shall be growing this year.
Tricia
You can grow a lot of varieties up, give them something to climb up and you will have to tie them in too. If the squash are bigger then a pound or so I would give them support like you would a melon, people have grown full size pumkins upright by building what look like 4 foot high bird tables to sit the pumpkin on so there is no strain on the stem. The stem does grow stronger than one on the ground though. They look like aspidistra stands with a pot on it from a distance.
XX Jeannine
I grew both pumpkin and squash vines vertically last year up a pergola that hubby made me specially for the squashes and was happy with the results, well apart from the bad weather that was.
Made the last of the pupmkin soup this weekend :P
How far apart would Jack Be Little have to be planted to grow up an obelisk? I would like to plant 1 in each corner if poss.
Weed-Digga
Grew mine up and over with my runners.
Hi Tricia
Gems are lovely if cooked right, an old South african recipe is to cut them in half put small slits in middle of them with a good dollip of butter, bake int he oven, and when they come out put in some more butter and sugar mush up in the shell and enjoy, gorgeous. I need to sow mine soon, I have missed them so much, glad you like them springbokgirlie send some pics how your turn out
my mom used to fill them with creamed sweetcorn, then grated cheese on top and under the grill.
Im looking forward to eating them again :D
oooh don't you make my mouth water I managed to get some at tesco lat year some time and they were a pure taste of heaven. Did you sow yours inside or out in a cold greenhouse
I sowed them in the airing cupboard, 1 came up really quick so I took them out.
Put them on my bedroom windowsill above a radiator and the other 3 germinated without the airing cupboard.
I have 4 lovely 2 leaved big seedlings :D :D :D.
Will not put them outside at all at Jeaninnes advice until its really really warm. I am going to grow them in pots up a trellis .. make a feature in the garden with them :)
Here's how they do it in France, and none of their fruits were supported. The tunnel was a long wooden structure with netting in between the uprights.
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a364/Mrsava/flowers%20and%20allotment/pumpkin_tunnel_jardin_du_monde.jpg)
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a364/Mrsava/family/pumpkins_jardin_du_monde.jpg)
Emma they are supported by the netting, the squash are potimarrons and not very heavy, the other one is hanging staright down from an overhead supported stem so much less chance of causing a problem .
Wonderful picture though, I envied the owner so much
XX Jeannine
IM NEW TO THIS SITE I WAS RECOMENDED TO TALK TO YOU AS YOU WERE FROM SOUTH AFRICA IM LOOKING FOR GEM SQUASH SEEDS PLEASE CAN YOU HELP USED TO GET THEM FROM ASDA BUT THEY ARE EXPENSIVE AND CAN ONLY BUY THEM ONCE A YEAR PLEASE CAN YOU HELP BIN HERE FOR FIVE YEARS NOW MISS THEM LOADS JUST GOT A PLOT FIRST THING ON MY LIST IS TO GROW THEM HELP PLEASE :'(
Hi Daileg,
Welcome to the site.
Unfortunately I was sent four seeds by CaseyLee, I have no idea where you can by them, but Jeaninne is the squash expert here, she may know.
Have jsut pmed you Daileg with details on how to get them
If anyone else would like some the link is
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SQUASH-LITTLE-GEM-TRAILING-12-SEEDS_W0QQitemZ280215841558QQihZ018QQcategoryZ1512QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
very cheap and good seeds
hiya, daileg, welcome to the site ;D
Hi daileg
Let me have your address via pm and I will send you a few. Also have some green hubbard squash that you might also be missing.
I grew both last year and had a very good crop. I grew the hubbard on the top of my horse poo manure box and the gems I put under the mielies (corn). I did try the three sisters but something kept chomping my barlotti beans and I ended up with stubbs every time.
Will try again this year.
Jitterbug#
WOW those squash plants look fantastic.
I have got to go home from work now so will have to come back to this topic tomorrow to have another look!!
Old Bird