I got some seeds mixed up- ok, I forgot to label them :-[ I know they are a mixture of courgettes or butternut squash and they are all at the stage of first real leaves. Would I be right in thinking that the courgettes are bigger with more jagged leaves while the squash leaves are slightly furry? ???
that's a good guess, but I don't know if some varieties of squash and courgette read the same books that we do!! ;)
I've just been and looked in my greenhouse. I have Courgettes, butternutts, pumpkins and south African gem squash on the bench together and, other than the name on the label I'd be pushed to tell what is what if they got mixed up.
Cant offer many tips but the butternut is probably the dead one, and the courgette is the one which is mostly dead but has a live bit in the middle. :P
That made me laugh ;D So true, am on my third attempt LOL
Quote from: lewic on May 19, 2009, 20:26:21
Cant offer many tips but the butternut is probably the dead one, and the courgette is the one which is mostly dead but has a live bit in the middle. :P
I've not had anything die yet but my pati pans and golden courgettes have refused to germinate completely.
My pattipan didn't germinate either... did we get them from the same seed swap? :-X
my patty pans also was trouble to germinate, but i finally got one to grow, the seeds were kept from a packet i bought last year.
Quote from: saddad on May 20, 2009, 00:15:49
My pattipan didn't germinate either... did we get them from the same seed swap? :-X
No, I bought mine. Haven't had anything from the swap.
Courgette seeds last for several years. There should be no problems with last years seeds. I think they get too cold or too hot in some garden centres. I try not to buy seeds from greenhouse style outlets.
I think you are right that the squash are the furry ones. Once they produce fruit you will see the difference. I think that the flowers of squashes are smaller and paler.
I planted four custard white pattypans, and only one germinated. I'm not complaining as I'm not that keen on summer squash.
Same result for me - 4 pattypans planted, one germinated, new seed. My courgettes striata di italy and romanescu all germinated from seed that is at least 4 years old.
Quote from: Plot69 on May 19, 2009, 20:21:01
I've just been and looked in my greenhouse. I have Courgettes, butternutts, pumpkins and south African gem squash on the bench together and, other than the name on the label I'd be pushed to tell what is what if they got mixed up.
Plot69 where do you get your gem squash seed from? it is one of my favourites and its hard to come by here in the UK?
Thanks
1066
Quote from: plot51A on May 20, 2009, 09:05:53
Same result for me - 4 pattypans planted, one germinated, new seed. My courgettes striata di italy and romanescu all germinated from seed that is at least 4 years old.
All the pumpkin seed I saved last year turned out to be dud, so maybe there was a problem due to the weather.
Butternut seed leaves are slightly furry with more of a bluish tint that a typical courgette, with more elongated/rectangular seed leaves. Pumpkins and other winter squash are often strongly ribbed and have the biggest seed leaves of them all.
Nothing much more to add except a vote for the squash `Potimarron`-smallish orange fruit with a dense flesh that does (to me anyway)-taste a bit like a chestnut.
And not too late to sow if anyone is interested
Quote from: 1066 on May 20, 2009, 09:30:06
Plot69 where do you get your gem squash seed from? it is one of my favourites and its hard to come by here in the UK?
Thanks
1066
The old boy George, next plot but one to me, is 86 and he grows them. He was stationed in S/A during the war and apparently Gem Squash are a staple food over there... Or they was in the 1940's anyway. He brought the seed back with him and he's been growing them ever since, saving the seed each year.
I was chatting to him last year and asked him what they was. He picked a few, gave them to me and told me to try them. The Wife cut the top off, roasted them and filled them with mince, onions etc. and they was bloody gorgeous. So with the last one I saved all the seed for this year.
I sowed 10 seed and all 10 germinated. I'm a bit behind old George though as he already has his planted out and mulched up with straw like you would strawberries.
So if you want a few seeds, send me a personal with your address and I'll post you some ASAP.
Plot69 - what a great story and I will pm my address!!! I love Gem squash and I think they are still as popular as ever in South Africa. The way South African friends cooked them for me was to pierce the skins a few times then simmer them in boiling water for about 25 mins, slice the top off, scoop the seeds out and then put some butter and a little sugar or pepper - and EAT :D Totally delicious. I did this with the Gem rolets that I grew last year. And am still trying to figure out if they are 1 and the same ???
1066
Thanks, that helps. I pre-chitted all my squash, courgette and pumpkin seed. only the potimarron didn't grow after sowing.
My Butternuts snarted off with hairy leaves compared to the courgettes - all look more or less the same now they've got a bit bigger though! Don't know if that helps or not! :)