Something I'd like to do this year is grow some squash. I keep seeing pictures of peoples harvest from last year full of all these wonderful shapes, sizes and colours of squash and I'd like to try and grow some too...
So, I'm wondering if anyone has any recomendations when it comes to varieties, don't really want anything that grows huge fruits as I'd rather have quantity than size but other than that I'm open to suggestions.....
Hi i am not any great squash grower but will be dabbling in about 8 varieties this year, if you punch in squash/ squash varieties in the search engine you would be astounded with the amount of info that will be presented to you. some of it is very recent, as in postings from this year. good luck.
I have tried 2 types, Butternut (easy) and Pattison Orange (hard).
I would go for Butternut to start off with although Jeannine can answer the flavour question better than I.
See easy instructions on :-
http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments_Vegetables_squash_butternut.html
(http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allbutternut_ready.jpg)
Small varieties that are tasty:
Sucrine de Berry
Potimarron
Buttercup
Butternuts (although these can get quite big)
allaboutliverpool - how many plants to get that number of fruit. I only grew one plant and had 3 fruit, I am not sure whether that was poor harvest or about average?
???
Hi Suzanne,
Remarkably the results over two years were very similar
2007 6 plants 42.01Kg 32 Fruits
2008 7 plants 49.68Kg 37 Fruits (one plant outside)
I have plenty left and will reduce down to 4 Butternut and a different variety this year.
(http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allbutternut_outside_080915.JPG)
http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments_Vegetables_squash_butternut.html
Last year I grew
1) Butternut Harrier
2) Mars (football size)
3) Golden Nugget (softball size - one portion)
The most prolific and best storers were the Golden Nugget, by far.
Quote from: allaboutliverpool on February 26, 2009, 14:36:43
Hi Suzanne,
Remarkably the results over two years were very similar
2007 6 plants 42.01Kg 32 Fruits
2008 7 plants 49.68Kg 37 Fruits (one plant outside)
Hmmm.... I think I need to start feeding them as they grow then. I don't usually but looks like I am only getting half the expected yield.
My squash did nothing last year. They disappeared under weeds!! I had loads of courgettes and 4 pumpkins from about 6 plants.
I'm going to grow them up frames this year. Have just looked at the climbing squash thread at the pics of squash63's link and they look lovely. Much better than mine. I only got around 4 butternuts to a plant last year
Hi,
Uchiki Kuri is another nice one, not too big and a lovely bright orange colour. Tonda Padana from www.seedsofitaly.co.uk is really nice but might be a bit too big for you. I also grow lots of butternuts every year as they store so well and are tasty.
There are some photos here of how I grow squash up canes
http://s30.photobucket.com/albums/c333/Aragona/squash/
Good luck with whatever you decide.
I have done well with red kuri and also 'microwave' pumpkin from T&M. The second were really tasty and produced lots of small fruits (meal sized).
I'm getting all excited about the three sisters and tom swap now... hopefully its on its way to me soon.
Becky
Thanks everyone, I shall have a browse through the seed cataloges at the weekend armed with these ideas now :)
Be careful, browsing can lead to addiction, so I do seed catalogues now and then, "I can handle it" ;D
Quote from: Squash63 on February 26, 2009, 18:25:11.
There are some photos here of how I grow squash up canes
Do you think you could do an up & down approach so they don't get too tall? The spot I have in mind would cast shadow, which I want to minimise.
Barnowl wrote
Do you think you could do an up & down approach so they don't get too tall? The spot I have in mind would cast shadow, which I want to minimise.
...
I haven't tried it myself, but I suppose you could. I think that some varieties of squash are more vigorous than others, the Sicilian Snake and Tromba d'Albegna being examples. We cut about a foot off the growing shoots of the snakes to use in soup and it has the effect of making many more side shoots grow. Some of the smaller squash like Uchiki Kuri and Buttercup do not grow as manically as snakes!
Thanks. I might try both :)
Betty I had a look at the Seeds of Italy site and they don't have the 2 you mentioned.
Quote from: shirlton on February 28, 2009, 09:01:21
Betty I had a look at the Seeds of Italy site and they don't have the 2 you mentioned.
Shirl,
Have a look here http://www.seedsofitaly.co.uk/catalogue/8/1 for the pumpkin Padana (they seem to have changed the name but it's the same same one) and the Sicilian Snakes are Serpente di Sicilia.
On the next page is Tromba d'Albegna. The Snakes make a lovely screen but are not all that tasty in my opinion. The Tromba are good for eating and also make a nice screen. They get very long and twisted, I'll put a photo on photobox of one. The Padana pumpkin are really nice though but I haven't tried growing them upwards........yet!
http://s30.photobucket.com/albums/c333/Aragona/squash/
Just added a couple of photos of the Tromba and Snakes
Squash63 really nice photos, how do you know when they are ripe or are they an autumn harvest crop where you harvest them all at a certain time?
Have had a look at the snake ones but if they aren't very good to eat I won't be growing them. What is the round green one Betty
Quote from: thifasmom on February 28, 2009, 09:55:36
Squash63 really nice photos, how do you know when they are ripe or are they an autumn harvest crop where you harvest them all at a certain time?
All except the Snakes are winter squash. The Snakes might be okay to eat if they are picked fairly small, but we grew them for a 'Longest Snake' competition so they were past their best when they were picked.
Quote from: shirlton on February 28, 2009, 17:11:12
Have had a look at the snake ones but if they aren't very good to eat I won't be growing them. What is the round green one Betty
The Snakes aren't bad if they are picked courgette size, it's a matter of taste and there are so many squash which are better.
I can't remember what the round green one was now, should have labelled the photo, sorry.
Last year, I grew the following quick maturing varieties successfully in Glasgow during a dull, wet and cold Summer. Suggested varieties of Winter Squash are
Festival F1. This is a very quick maturing variety that carries several, sweet tasting, small, pretty squashes. Each one is the right size for a family meal, some 1 kg, and could also be readily stuffed and then microwaved. It is very good for storing and will regularly store into the next Summer.
Red Kuri or Uchiki Kuri. There is some dispute in the seed catalogues as to whether these are different names for the same variety or two different cultivars of the same variety. Red Kuri may be a redder cultivar. In any event, they are quick maturing with a good flavour, weighing about 1.3 kg each. Only stored to Feb.
Crown Prince F1. This is very tasty, having large blue/grey fruits each about 4 kg, and should store well into spring. This was the best variety for me last year, taking into account taste, useable flesh and keeping quality. Still solid.
Bonbon F1. This one came top in a recent independent taste test with a dry, nutty taste. Each fruit weighs about 2 kg and should store into the Winter. This variety only stored till midwinter.
There is more information and photos on my web site if you follow the link.