Struggling with squash

[Cutecumber]

I am making myself quite miserable by attempting to research different types of squash. It's sad, it really is.

We start with the genus: cucurbita...

...then we have four species: moschata, maxima, pepo and ficifollia.

Below that, it's all far too weird and inconsistent to begin to comprehend.

I have found that there is a huge problem with naming - it can be misleading and is certainly inconsistent. I am going round in circles.

Anyone know of a site with accurate information about squash varieties?

The bottom line, more or less, is that I want to grow a medium/small winter squash that has dry flesh - more like potatoes/ chestnuts rather than the more fibrous, "mealy" types). I had some once as tempura, but I was not interested in growing things at that time, so I haven't a clue what it was.

Your help is needed

(Oh, I have grown Butternut and Crown Prince before - they were ok, but the texture wasn't right)

[Paulottie]

I don't know about Winter squash, but the French summer squash 'Pattison' have the good stingless texture you require. Don't taste of much tho' -but then squashes don't really taste much to me. They appear to be storing well so far too...They're pretty little blighters to boot and did a lot better than the butternuts this year. I'll send a few seeds if you want CuteC

[veg4681]

I'm sort of starting to get hooked on winter squash variety too but the variety of seeds are scattered across too many seed suppliers. I think 'seed by size' has the largest collection in any one seed supplier but they work out more expensive than others.

http://www.seeds-by-size.co.uk/squash98.html

I also prefer smaller to medium size fruits, like 3 lbs and under otherwise too much hassle with storage/cooking etc. BTW I've ordered Burgess Vine Buttercup but have set my eyes on Sweet Dumpling, Harlequin, Butternut Barbara F1 and Celebration Mixed.

I'm not familiar with dry squash like sweet potatoes but there is a one called Sweet Potato Squash. Is this what you're looking for making tempura?

I found this interesting website, might be worth a try looking.

http://whatscookingamerica.net/squash.htm

[Cutecumber]

Thanks - I'll have a look.

[PAULW]

Have a look here they do a tennessee sweet potato squash I only one had one grow and haven't tried it yet so cannot comment on the taste or texture.
http://www.podseeds.co.uk/

[momol]

Hi CC,

Apart from C. Maxima, C. Pepo, C. Moschata & C.ficifolia there is one more edible type that is C. Argyrosperma / C. mixta.
The C. Mixta and C. Ficifolia are not suitable here, they need very long growing time and lots of sun shine. I can't find single web which include in everything but you should be able to google them under the name of Cucurbita.

As for dry flesh winter squash which taste a bit to potatoes / chestnut, try Red kuri (it is a C. Maxima, the fles is dry, sweet, nutty and has smooth texture ),
Kobacha ( a japanese pumpkin,belong to C.Maxima, taste is sweet , dry, nutty and very smooth creamy texture which is very suitable for tempura ),
Chestnut ( very rare C. Maxima, taste sweet, nutty and not stringy )... So far I have try them all and they are delicious.

Hope it help,
Momol

[Cutecumber]

Thanks very nuch, Momol - that confirms what I have found.

I actually bought some Red Kuri seed (also Uchiki Kuri, also onion squash????) recently - so that was a good guess!

I was also thinking of giving a kabocha type a ago, so I'll try a small one of those too.

Seems I've got some good information from my reading, at least!

[momol]

You are welcome CC.

Btw, for kobacha try sweet mama ( Hybrid kobacha ), I know it is not OP but the good thing is, he is semi bush ( grow to aprox 2 meter with no side shoots and it is an early type, around 90 days or so, small fruit around 1.5 kg/ fruit, around 3 to 5 fruit / vine ) really good for small garden.
As for the Op type go for bush buttercup ( but it is not as superior as sweet mama, it is also around 90 days, fruit is around 1.5 to 2 kg, around 3 to 4 fruit / vine).
Nice to hear you got Red Kuri... I grow them for the seconde year now, they are early ( around 90 days ) and can be very fruitfull... one of mine produce 6 fruit per vine ( 4 of them at 2 kg and the other 2 only around 700 grams ) but you have to prepare the soil and protect them from the slugs ( I lost lots of young squashes eaten up even at the size of 15 cm across ).
Good luck for your squashes hunt, I got mine ( 3 more ) for next year, they are baby ponca butternut ( very compact vine/ semi bush ), vermicelli F1 ( a spaghetty type ) & zapallito ( a bush C. Maxima ) so next year will 6 type winter squashes ( with my remaining: Red Kuri, Pomme D'or & Yokohama ).

Momol

[Two_Sheds]

How about try before you buy (well, before you grow at least). Can you buy a variety of squashes to eat? Our Asda has quite a few, and if you're near a Waitrose you're really spoiled. Good luck. I didn't get any edible squash this year, too wet, too cold.

[Cutecumber]

Thanks again Momol. Sweet Mama was on my possible list, so that's good to know.

Two sheds - there have been little other than butternuts round here, to be honest. I need to go out in to Kent and search some farm shops, I think. There's also the naming problem - even the growers aren't certain what they are sometimes!

[momol]

Hi CC,

You are very welcome... .
My advantage is, I am close to the retired hobby farmer, they grow so many types of winter squashes with very reasonable price ( buttercup for 50 cent, hubbard for 60 cents, around 4 kg banana squash for 1.5 euro, 3 kg crown prince for 1 euro... ) yes, I have tried baking ( and once in a while in soup ) most of them just to know the taste preference for my own garden plan ( but again, taste can be very individual, hope I don't mislead you with my tasting experience ).
I know that the potatoes farmer has problems with blight this year and they have been spraying and I tried to eat very less potatoes ( only organic one ) and since Winter squashes are grown free of pesticides it is one of the most save and very healthy choice for stapel food. They taste pretty nice actually.
I have a very nice web about winter squash ID ( in french ) :http://cucurbitophile.ovh.org/afg009.html
They include in most of the edible type squashes with fotos for ID.

Happy squashes hunting,

Momol

[Tigerella]

Hi

I’ve been struggling with my squash too, save our sports, my local council seems to be closing squash courts or knocking them down.
At a time when we all need to play more sport.

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/save-our-sports/

T

PS. Didn’t grow any squash this year, will have another go next year.

[Cutecumber]

ho ho!

You daft Grape, you


Back to the other squash...

Sadly, I can't now find Sweet Mama seed anywhere.

Anyone tried Black Forest? It is a kabocha type, I wonder if it is similar to sweet mama?

Momol - as far as taste goes, I confess that I do not naturally like sweet vegetables (carrots, sweet potato, squash etc) but I am trying to find ways to change my tastes. I can really only eat squash which is made quite savoury, and my preference is soup. I would like to try making an indian meal with it, mixing with other vegetables, as I think that would be nice. But the texture has to be right!

[Cutecumber]

Ah, found Sweet Mama at Mammoth Onion.

Sorted.

[momol]

All the best CC...

Momol