:) which seed company do I get it from,?
saw Valentine Warner on an organic pumpkin farm last night(on a TV cookery prog..I don't know him ::))
he was making pumpkin soup with lots of different squash and pumpkin to see which tasted the best
Blue hubbard came out the winner,is it an American squash?
thanks in advance/ shades x
I watched this last night too. I can see how Jeannine has become hooked on these little guys. Was very impressed with the Blue Hubbard and the Onion one too. Can't wait to see if anyone knows of suppliers of these seeds. Going to check the BBC website shortly but I bet Jeannine will know - one of her American suppliers might be able to help. Going to try the roasted one too...........
twinkletoes
These people do the seed, blue ballet hubbard.
http://www.seeds-by-size.co.uk/squash98.html
Edwin Tucker - www.tuckers-seeds.co.uk - do lots of different winter squahs at reasonable prices and are a UK company.
WSQ86 Organic Blue Ballet (Winter Storage) (10 seeds)Description
A small 'Hubbard ' type squash with blue//grey skin.Bright orange fibre free flesh.Fruitsweigh up to 1.5kg (3lb)trailing habit.
Price: £ 1.60 per 1 pkt(s)
.........crickey.....I know its only me but .......what a confusing site to try and buy seeds. I think I will have to try somewhere else.
twinkletoes
simpsons seeds also do them (I Think) but their website is down at the mo
very good for us this year. last year it was one of only 2 types that gave anything at all.........
.............. I mean the seeds by size site though not the tuckers seeds one.
twinkletoes
Mine came from Bakers Creek..
www.rareseeds.com
Smashing site, cheap postage and very reliable, Jere the owner is very good.
Bet you can't buy just one LOL
Great choice by the way, it is an excellent squash.
XX Jeannine
I shall definitely be trying these. The idea of popping one in the microwave sounds lovely and wholesome (much like Valentine).
edit: not that I want to microwave him!
:) thank you for all your replies and links,
so blue ballet is the same thing? and hubbard is the type of squash? sorry for being thick!
if so the organic seed cat has them as well :)
thanks again /shades x
I think blue ballet is a smaller version of the blue hubbard, but I'm sure I read somewhere that one blue ballet will provide a meal for 4 which seems plenty big enough to me! :)
Mr Fothergill's have the blue hubbard btw.
I grow Blue Hubbard and originally got my seed from America. Fothergill's do it but not as a shop standard, you have to order it.
Hi re this squash
Blue Hubbard is just one type of Hubbard squash, there are lots.
Blue Hubbard is a big squash with a long growing time.
It can reach up to 40 ibs in weight and rarely is less than 15ibs.
There is a Baby Blue Hubbard which matures about 3 weeks ealier, these weigh about 6 ilbs. They are also on smaller vines.
XX Jeannine
So to get the size that was used in the programme, would you pick it earlier or have they just forgotten to say exactly which variety is it? I would have thought it not a great idea to pick before they are ready but to leave it to get to 15lbs. would mean you couldn't use it as Valentine did. I am guessing I should have bought Baby Blue Hubbard huh?! :-\ ???
twinkletoes
If it was a small one it would have to be the baby one. Steel blue skin wouldn't show on an underdeveloped squash and the texture would be more like a summer squash, also it only develops it;s sweetness when mature, in fact the longer you store winter squash,the sweeter they get.
They may have meant the small one and just left off their baby word.
Blue Magic is another one..even smaller than Baby Blue.
Re Blue Ballet, there has been some controversy about this one..some growers sell it as the same, other growers offer the two types of seed.
Personally I think the Blue Ballet is a wee bit more round than the teardrop shaped Baby Blue and the skin is smoother rather than bumpy like most Hubbards,but there are so many variables in a growing season that I really not so sure.
Blue Kuri is another good one by the way, the lovely blue skin and a terrific flavour.
It's a bit like the same argument re Kuri.
If you do grow the original Blue Hubbard, start them as early as you can, I pot them on until I have them in buckets before they go out, give them tons of manure and if you are able give them some fleece when they go out. I also black plastic my ground a few weeks before planting out which warms the soil by a few degrees. Give them loads of room, cramping squash is one of the biggest problems as they fight for nutrients in the ground.
They will need 110 days of good warm weather to mature, but it can be done and is the fun of squash.
I shall watch next year and see how you do, I love Hubbards especially the blues.
XX Jeannine
Thanks Jeannine - that is just so helpful (as usual). I am just doing an order on the Baker Creek site so will adjust my order accordingly now. I have only grown a "run of the mill" pumpkin and butternuts for the first time this year so am looking forward to trying my hand at some new and different varieties. I will let you know of my progress.....just make sure you are hooked up asap when you arrive at your new home.
twinkletoes
All this has got me going,ordered some Blue Hubbard off eBay...........plus a few other things. :D
I know what you mean betula. I don't know whether to blame Jeannine or Valentine Warner.....I wouldn't have watched the programme if it hadn't been for Jeannine but then I wouldn't have bought the seeds if I hadn't seen the programme ::) ::) but I am sure I'm going to enjoy the experience....... ;D
twinkletoes
Ha Ha, that is the sort of blame I enjoy..spreading the word about squash.They are addictive you know.I think we should starta bonsaisquash club and bring them down to tiny so we have room to grow them all!!
If you are buying from Jere at Baker Creek you will be happy.
Just to tempt you further, while you are looking consider
Black Futsu, Greek Sweet Red and Potimorron all squash.
Melon, Hero of Lockinge..bred here in England and not available here anymore.
Tomato.. Paul Robeson
I know I am bad.
XX Jeannine
Jeannine Jeannine dont stop, add at least one bean as well, please
lbb
Quote from: Jeannine on October 01, 2008, 17:08:12I enjoy..spreading the word about squash.They are addictive you know.
Yes, they are, very addictive. My wife bought a few Butternuts from Morrisons to try last year... This year I grew a few dozen of my own.
I also grew a few Patti Pans. Didn't know what to expect until my wife cooked them and stuffed them with all manor of good things... Next year I'm going to grow a few dozen more.
Old George on the next plot, had his plot for 40 years and was stationed in South Africa during the war. Gave me a couple of South African Gem squash (At least that's what he called them) to try... Next year I'm going to grow a few dozen of my own.
Only ever grown pumpkins for the kids on Halloween. Never tried it to eat, bit frightened to in case I need to grow a few dozen more next year. Especially as the half dozen I grew this year got this big...
(http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/gallery/6711_01_10_08_6_38_48.JPG)
Squash are not something I've ever thought about growing or eating. I imagined they all tasted bland, wet, soggy and watery like marrow...
How wrong was I?
Quote from: Jeannine on October 01, 2008, 17:08:12
Ha Ha, that is the sort of blame I enjoy..spreading the word about squash.They are addictive you know.I think we should starta bonsaisquash club and bring them down to tiny so we have room to grow them all!!
If you are buying from Jere at Baker Creek you will be happy.
Just to tempt you further, while you are looking consider
Black Futsu, Greek Sweet Red and Potimorron all squash.
Melon, Hero of Lockinge..bred here in England and not available here anymore.
Tomato.. Paul Robeson
I know I am bad.
XX Jeannine
I love Black Futsu, we roast them whole, with a little cream and cheese in the centre, then just eat them with a spoon. Lovely.
Oh boy were you wrong!!
Super harvest there..goodlooking kid too.
Some squash/pumpkins are bland so read up about the ones you fancy, some of the really pretty ones can be miserable to eat, but there are many many more that have a lovely flavour.
Try them chipped like potatoes.
The big ones we know as Hallowen pumpkins don't stand alone for flavour but can be useful in a well seasoned dish.
LBB. Jere does have some good beans, but he doesn't have a huge collection and some are available here..Cherokee Trail of Tears is getting quite well known now.
I like his Purple Podded Pole, really good yield and taste great.
Blue Lake is a good one..but not from Jere on this occasion as he sells the bush one and I would go for the climbing strain.
Old Homestead is an excellent early climber to use as a green bean.
I think my favourite is Papa de Rola, it grows to about 4 foot so kids think it is a kiddie climber, the beans are so pretty to look at, fat beans half white and half a streaky red/ brown, it looks as if they have been hand dipped . They make a great dry bean but can be eaten as a green. I like them in soup, they hold their shape nicely and have a lovely flavour.
He does have a good range of long beans though..fave would have to be Chinese Red Noodle. They grow fairly long, more than a foot(not as long as some though) they will take some variations in weather but plant them as soon as you can as they need a long season.
3 years ago I grew a fence of long beans, mixed varieties and it looked smashing. Red,black,green, red and purple. I never did find a yellow one.
If you are into the Okra challenge, he has a huge selection.
If you are looking on his site, check out Coban pumpkin which is actually a summer squash which looks like a winter squash!! Really good flavour, quite different to the usual summer squash or courgette. He is the only person I know who sells it.
I should stop here... and no we are not relations!!!
I like this company as Jere wanted to be a seedsman from being a kid, he did his own catalogue at17 which went to 550 people, after just 10 years now he prints 11,000. You have to admire that and he is very well thought of.
XX Jeannine
Today I have bought 12 Blue Hubbard seeds for 99p
Early yellow bush scallop petty pan squash 30 seeds 99p
uchki kuri 10 seeds £1.09
Gourd ten commandments 8 seed and they say these are rare £1.09
White cloud squash 12 seeds 99p
70P POST.
These were from Premier seeds on eBay.
Betula, thanks for the link. I have just bought the following squash seeds from them:
Uchiki Kuri
Crown Prince
Delicata
Blue Hubbard
Crikey, didn't know my little thread would cause soooo much interest :)
thanks for all your advise Jeannine :-*
We will all have to compare results and taste next year :D
thanks once again one and all for your input to this thread/ shades x
I love the picture plot69. The poor boy looks like he's being 'squashed'.
Quote from: sawfish on October 02, 2008, 09:32:42
I love the picture plot69. The poor boy looks like he's being 'squashed'.
Oh yes, very droll Sawfish.
I had 6 pumpkins all very similar in size to that one. I brought them all home early this year as they all got nicked a week before Halloween last year.
Hey Betula, I just got stuff delivered from premier seeds on ebay too.
Delicata Squash
Lunga Gigante Di Napoli Squash
Blue Hubbard Squash
Costoluto Fiorentino Tomato
Giant D'Inverno Leek
Cylindra Beetroot
Golden Detroit Beetroot
Yellow Sweet Spanish (Utah) Onion
Long Red Florence Onion
all 99p
Perhaps Jeannine might know if any of these squash wont grow up here in Glasgow.
I also found this interesting place
http://www.seedsuk.com (http://www.seedsuk.com)
They sell individual seeds so you can order smaller amounts for less. Its a good Idea as you always get too much and most lose germination for the following year.
Yes ,I only found premier seeds yesterday,They have a reasonable selection. ;D
You have a good variety there Sawfish. :)
Great picture plot 69 :)
Translating you squash it reads
Long giant from Napoli
I know of a squash called Lungs Di Napoli and a parsley called Gigante di Napoli but I am not familiar with a giant long squash.
nine
Franch i seeds sell the Lunga Di Napoli and have info on their site.
Delicata is a quicker growing squash so you should be Ok with that one,,it is quite small..my personal fave actually.
XX Jean
I had a look at Jere's site and he has a wonderful selection.Think I will be buying more soon.
I like eBay cus I can pay with pay pal and I find that a bit easier.
I made my order on Baker Creek - darned good value if you ask me - 25-30 seeds for each item and between £1 and £1.40 per item and just £1.70 for postage. I have ordered Red Kuri, Sweet Dumpling, Sugar Loaf Delicata, Musquee de Provence and Baby Blue Hubbad. I have kept Jeannine's list and will try some others next time. Haven't enough room to grow any more. We should try and remember to post pictures next year of our efforts (not that I have a clue on how this is done.....yet ::)) ;D
twinkletoes.
I got the baker creek catalogue a couiple of years ago, its lovely.
well I just got overly excited by the thought of Baker Creek Seeds and bought:
Red Kuri (Hokkaido) Squash
Golden Hubbard Squash
Crookneck - Early Golden Summer Squash
Navet des Vertus Marteau Turnip
Royal Hillbilly Tomato
Japanese Black Trifele Tomato
Paul Robeson Tomato
Ananas Noire or Black Pineapple Tomato
Wapsipinicon Peach Tomato
only £1.70 postage
Has anyone ever bought squash from here?
http://www.kcb-samen.ch/shop/ (http://www.kcb-samen.ch/shop/)
Sawfish,it is an itch you have to scratch LOL ;D
you mentioned blue magic, Jeannine..is there a company in the uk that sells the seed, I only want a few, we quite enjoyed the jack be little and baby boo and they tasted really good..I'd like to extend the small squash next year, can't find it googling :)
http://www.seeds-by-size.co.uk/squash98.html (http://www.seeds-by-size.co.uk/squash98.html)
sell blue magic
thanks, sawfish..going for a look, card in hand ;D
Quote from: sawfish on October 02, 2008, 19:18:30
http://www.seeds-by-size.co.uk/squash98.html (http://www.seeds-by-size.co.uk/squash98.html)
sell blue magic
While the website is as confusing as hell, I can vouch for the quality of service and seeds.
My order arrived this morning,at last I have my hands on the blue hubbard.
I messed up the postage due to messing up the order,my fault and they have sent me extra seeds without any prompting from me.
Premier seeds have just earned themselves a brownie point with me ;D
Mine came too this morning.
We will have to see how the seeds do.
Can't wait,got the bug now. :)
Woohoo me too! After finding out lots to help other people find stuff I thought I might as well have a go myself! So I now have blue hubbard, potimarron and uchiki kuri seeds to drool over. Plus some douce provence peas for planting when the rain stops!!
We grew Blue, Green and Golden Hubbards this year, which considering the summer have cropped very heavily. Not tried the Onion Squash, but the place we got the hubbards from this year have them for sale as well and the seeds were some of the best we have ever had.
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Premier-Seeds-Direct
I have seen them on a lot of US websites, so they probably are a US variety as they love pumpkins and squash.
Having seen that article in the Telegraph we will be going back to them, they seem to be a small family business with their own allotment.
Peter