The Complete Squash book ?

[momol]

Hello Grapes,

I love growing squashes and would like to have a good book about it.
Have anyone read "The Compleat Squash" Book (by Dr. Amy Goldman) ? and would you recommend it as a good squash book ?
It seems to be highly recommended for heirloom squash reading.

I am open for other good squash book recommendations too .

Thanks in advance.

[smallblueplanet]

This book is fun - Seahorse bought a copy too.



Amazon.co.uk: 100 Vegetables and Where They Came from: Books: William Woys Weaver

Lots of his books look very interesting, but seem hard to find.

This looks good too.



Amazon.co.uk: Heirloom Vegetable Gardening: A Master Gardener's Guide to Planting, Growing, Seed Saving, and Cultural History: Books: William Woys Weaver

This looks good too - there are 2ndhand copies of it for sale. I've a newer edition called 'Heritage Vegetables'



Amazon.co.uk: Heirloom Vegetables: a Home Gardener's Guide to Finding and Growing Vegetables from the Past: Books: Sue Stickland,David Cavagnaro

Not exactly just about squash, but they're in there!!!

[Seahorse]

Like Manda says... '100 vegetables...' is very good and I also have and really like the Stickland 'Heirloom Vegetables' too.

And... uh... I was just looking at Amazon for more info on 'The Compleat Squash' and seem to have inadvertantly ordered that too! If you're not desperate to know straight away Momol, I'll let you know what I think when it arrives! My only current reservation is that it's a US book and their climate is quite varied, so advice may, or may not, be useful here

[momol]

I got the time Seahorse .
We are planning to order couple of books next month (2 books for my DH are still not available ) as we usually order them (from amazon) all in one goal.

[smallblueplanet]

How much was your copy of 'Squash' Seahorse?

And just cos I like you - send fiver in envelope - here's a link to the UK mapped as hardiness zones ala US-stylee.

Plant Cold Hardiness Zone Map of the British Isles

Sorry momol it doesn't show the Netherlands.

[momol]

We got one but in Dutch. Our area is include in zone 8 .

[Seahorse]

Thanks Manda I'm in zone 8a then - not too bad!

My 'Squash' was £8.05 + post, there's one other on Amazon for under a tenner, then it shoots up to £15+ As it was a UK seller to boot, seemed like too good an opportunity to miss (that's my story and I'm sticking to it! ).

[smallblueplanet]

Boo! Its gone up in price to £8.94 - ah, I've just searched 'inside' using the Amazon facility and I see it has recipes in it.

That is my one BIG hate of gardening books, leave the recipes to cookbooks! I'm probably most bothered because I'm a veggie and so hate having non-veggie recipes in my books.

[Seahorse]

Lol! The recipes were one of the swaying factors for me! I have loads of cookery books but most UK ones don't really 'do' squash, other than the odd roast butternut or pumpkin pie. I can appreciate general recipes would be less useful if you don't eat meat though!

[momol]

Sorry SBP .

I have no idea will this "Compleat squash" book comes with recipes or not as I don't need it's extra recipe.

[smallblueplanet]

Thats okay momol, I don't think there's that many recipes in the book - I'm sure Seahorse will tell us when she gets her copy.

Its just that I hate non-veggie recipes in my gardening books!

[momol]

Seahorse we are counting on your recommendations .

[Seahorse]

I've just had a despatch note, so hopefully I should get it before the end of the week

[Seahorse]

It's a lovely book!!!

The main (and best, IMO) part of it is a guide to the many varieties of squash, listing them by family and within that by name, Latin name, size, weight, colour, fibre, date of introduction (to the US), best use and seed source (again US though). Each squash is pictured in fabulous, BIG colour photos. It's quite a 'coffee table' book, in that sense.

There are also sections on how to grow (mainly organic), harvesting, hand pollination and seed saving. There are a few recipes at the end but not too many and they do look useful and not things I'd seen before.

My only gripe is that it's an American book and very much written for the American market (using 'we' and 'us' to meet US gardeners, not necessarily anyone else and referring to American folklore and practices).

That said, I'm delighted with it and feel it will be very useful, as well as pretty to look at. I need to go and buy some more squash seeds now...

[smallblueplanet]

C'mon Seahorse you know I need to know are there pictures of blood-drenched meat recipes?