Allotments 4 All

My first year lottie has been a runaway success (a miracle even!) but I'm now looking ahead to next year and slightly modifying my planting regime (this year was plant anything I could lay my hands on and hope for the best) ;D
I have a specific question relating to winter squash. This year's squash harvest has been magnificent (probably the 2 tons of farmyard doodoo helped) The only problem is the variety I planted (don't ask, I was given some seedlings by a well meaning old chap who didn't know either) they are all about 5lb in weight with skin tougher than rhino hide.  Next year I would like to plant a variety that yields smaller fruit with great taste and good keeping qualities.
Any suggestions?  The advice and support from this site has been soooo helpful this year, I'm now a real grow it yourself evangelist :)

I have grown Avalon this year, not eated any as yet so cant comment on taste. The fruits have ranged in size from about a pound up to about 5. Most are still on the vine but will probably be harvested in the next two weeks.

Jerry

I always have to grow butternut, we love them and they store well!
The Organic Gardening catalogue (which I can't seem to get into at the moment) have a good selection and good write ups on them.

Deffinitely butternut.  Have got some great recipes ;D

They need LOTS of room though, mine have gone totally mad and taken over nearly 25% of the whole plot!!! :o

Would be interested in some of your reci[pies by the way!

Jerry

We grow butternuts too - seem to grow well despite us not giving them enough room, enough water, any food at all and of course they store well for most of the winter - you could also try growing a small variety of pumpkin - which are after all a variety of squash - tend to ripen a little earlier than squashes too so are more reliable if we have a lousy summer!

www.astray.com/recipes/?search=squash

;)

 Hi all,  :D
                 For a smallish squash I would recommend winter festival (sometimes just listed as festival) I had 4 plants & each one produced at least 6 fruits, all between 700gms & 1.25 kilos.  They are quite tasty  & are supposed to keep through the winter. The seeds are in T & M`s catologue.
                                                                     Adrian.

Quote from: flowerlady on October 07, 2005, 10:54:57
They need LOTS of room though, mine have gone totally mad and taken over nearly 25% of the whole plot!!! :o

Flowerlady why don't you try growing them up a frame, they take up less space that way ;D  (been growing mine upwards for years!

DP, is that the butternuts that you grow up a frame?  If so well defo try it next year.

Doris>> what do you use as a frame?   i'd  love to grow a pumpkin arch but i'm worried about holding the weight.

oh, and i'd reccomend 'orange dawn' (T&M) courgette size plants, grapefruit size pumpkins, sweet taste!

Winter festival, table queen, little gem, blue hubbard and baby bear are all good, turks turban are nice but I never get many on each plant and you can't go wrong with any of the butternuts. overall for flavour, yield and keeping qualities I'd go for little gems

Erm, I kinda make the supports as I go! :-\  And yes Jill my butternuts go upwards! They seem to support the weight not had to put supports in for the squash yet! Will try and dig out a photo, though was very bad this year and had a mad few weeks were we were away and didn't have time to train them upwards, (BAD DP!) so err I too have sprawling squash this year! :'(

this is unfortunately the best photo I have this year.......sorry!

Many thanks as always for the superb advice, I think I'll go for a Butternut, Little Gem and Orange Dawn. As you might have guessed, I love squash, especially the little ones that you can stuff and bake whole or use as an edible soup tureen ;D

I've grown loads of different squashes and use them for different recipes as they all have different qualities, some are best roasted, some are best curried etc.  some of the best tasting have been the small yellow ones (slight green ring at the base) and I've roasted those along with other veggies and they were surprisingly sweet.  Also I fried some off in smallish chunks with onion, courgette, mushrooms etc to make a pilaff with rice etc and that was very good use of a squash I reckon   :)

Blue Hubbard was a bit disappointing in the taste stakes despite the blurb saying it was No.1 in taste trials.  The Winter Festival looks fantastic but not eaten it yet.  I'll report back on Marina di Chioggia, Crown Prince and Uckiki Kuri, oh and Sweet Mama as I've not tried those yet.  Turks Turban is not much to write home about.  I;m told that Pompeon is a fab flavoured squash so I'm going to give that a whirl next year.

Thanks Wardy keep me posted. Yes, Blue Hubbard was disappointing. By the way, Pompeon (or Pompion) was the original 18th Century word for Pumpkin. I have a beautiful original recipe for Pompion soup which is simply sauted onions, Pumpkin and Christmas spices simmered in Duck or game stock. Blitz in the food processor and serve with a dollop of clotted cream on the top. I used to serve this every Christmas in my restaurant and the punters loved it. It freezes perfectly. ;D

I am going to grow an acorn squash next year but have not decided which one yet.

What a shame Wardy...hope you sold all those wallflowers.

Just to make you feel better I spent most of the day on the lottie and the weather was lovely...managed to get a lot done.

Derek