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I'm growing Sicilian snake squash for the first time and I was wondering if I need to peel them before eating them. They have a small duvet on their outer skin. I'm also wondering when I should pick them. They grow quite long apparently.
Many thanks

I haven't grown the snakes myself yet - Squash64 is the expert and I hope she will comment - but from what I hear you eat them young, before they grow into monsters.

As with any squash, if the skin feels tough as you cut through it, it needs peeling.  If the knife goes through the skin like butter, it doesn't.

HTH

I think Sicilian squash are fun to grow for a competition to see who can grow the longest one -
but I wouldn't recommend them for eating.  I don't think they have much flavour and they
need to be eaten fresh, they don't store for the winter. How long are yours now?

Hope I haven't put you off!  Galina has given good advice about peeling them.

I'm growing one of my favourites again this year - Tromba d'Albenga http://www.seedsofitaly.com/product/555

Is that Tomba d'Albenga a summer squash or a winter storing one? The site didn't say.

Quote from: Toshofthe Wuffingas on October 10, 2012, 16:37:08
Is that Tomba d'Albenga a summer squash or a winter storing one? The site didn't say.

It's a winter storing squash.  The seeds are in the bulbous end so there is a lot of the edible part.

*groan*

That means something else I have to try!

Thanks. Do you like  it because of the flavour or the convenience of the shape?

Quote from: Toshofthe Wuffingas on October 10, 2012, 18:25:45
*groan*

That means something else I have to try!

Thanks. Do you like  it because of the flavour or the convenience of the shape?

We like the flavour and the fact that most of it is edible.  Also, this year it has done really well when every butternut plant failed to produce a single fruit.  The fruit is quite big, I'll see if I can find a photo I took a few years ago and you'll see what I mean.

I have a pic still in my gallery if you cannot find one.

Gutted - the slugs ate my plants.  They are a lovely taste, and keep very well.   For me the best bit is that you can slice them and leave the end open and it oozes out a sweet liquid which sets hard and seals the end so they keep well even when cut.  The skin is not a thick as a butternut so they are easier to process yet keep very well.

I grow the Tromba up canes and when they reach the ground they start to bend, as this one has done.

Quote from: Squash64 on October 11, 2012, 11:23:25


I grow the Tromba up canes and when they reach the ground they start to bend, as this one has done.

Wow Betty, that's huge.  I'll have to give them another bash next year. 

Quote from: lottie lou on October 11, 2012, 11:26:39

Quote from: Squash64 on October 11, 2012, 11:23:25


I grow the Tromba up canes and when they reach the ground they start to bend, as this one has done.

Wow Betty, that's huge.  I'll have to give them another bash next year.

Yes, it was massive!  I forgot to say that it wasn't one from this year's crop - they are big, but not that big!