Which squash are worth the trying?

[Hazel at the Hill]

Another thumbs up for the red kuri here too - although I've not got much to compare them with taste-wise. They are a sensible size though - unlike the 'olive' squash that I have grown - just a couple of squash on each plant, but by george, they're big 'uns!

[ginger ninger]

I've grown "onion squash" I've had 6 off so far and there's 3 still on the plant worth eating, lots of smaller ones on though, I've also grown "little green gem" fantastic plant, I've had about a dozen off it and there's about 20 still on it, I have it growing over an arch in the garden, it's also claimed one of my washing line's, it looks brill.

[Two_Sheds]

I started them inside in the downstairs bathroom in February

I would say that Feb is far too early.
I don't start mine until April/May ... they grow very big, very fast and you can't put them outside until June/July.

I think they got a check in their growth early on.

[Peter]

We have so many blue hubbards that I honestly don't know what to do with them.

Uchiki kuri are brilliant - we have been eating these for a month and have about 10 to go!

Lavenderblue, Blue Hubbards, when are they ready?
Are they meant to look like a dark green wrinkly football.
I'm growing them for the first time this year and they seem to be lagging behind my Butternut & Crown Prince, most of which I have harvested after the foliage died back.

[gojiberry]

Must remember to label all my stuff next year. I have some nice pumpkins (6) that are just a bit bigger than footballs. I have some others which I haven't got a clue what they are but they are like a short fat marrow, got to be a squash of some sort. Trouble is I don't know how big they should be or their final colour. At he moment they are a darkish green. I have about 6 of these.

Ian

[bluemoon]

I've grown Potimarron for the last two years. One taste and I converted from someone who thought that pumpkins and squash were only fit for Hallowe'en lanterns, to a complete convert. The flavour and texture is beautiful, they grow well without any intervention from me and produce both large and small pumpkins, meaning they're versatile, you can cook them in just about any way you want, including stuffing the smaller ones. I just put plenty of homemade compost into a large planting hole, layering it with normal soil and a light sprinkling of BFB, watered well, and they romped away.

[Matt.]

I would add another vote to Potimarron aka urchi kuri. It is extremely tasty and a good size (galia melon). I will definietly grow these again. I would also recommend avalon butternut squash (T&M). Again a really good size although not as heavy cropper.

After trying several variaties I would avoid the mini squash next time as they just aren't big enough after you've de-skined and de-seeded. Also tried a variety called rolet and it is ridiculously hard. Its like a cannon ball so cutting them is near impossible. Very prolific though.

They key thing I've found about having sucess at squash and pumpkins is the soil. It sounds obvious but if you don't add loads of compost (shop or own) they just wont fair very well. I tried several varieties in "natural" soil on a new second plot and all have produced nothing. I always plant six or so of each seed so its not duff individuals. Also some of these are varieties I've grown sucessfully before so I'm convinced its not the seeds. I've also found that extra watering isn't needed except when getting new plants established. I know we had a damp early/mid summer but I've not watered at all and I've had great crops where I had composted soil. They are the ideal plant and forget crop in my opinion.

Next year I'm planning Potimarron (10 to 20 plants - it really is that good ) plus Crown Price (never tried before) and probably some butternut squashes. I'm tempted to save the seeds from some of this years Potimarron but how do you know they've not been cross-polinated with a different variety? It doesn't matter - they're a cheap seed so I'll proabably stick to buying!

One final comment always try and grow several plants. For starters you get several seeds in a packet but it also helps pollination as you should have male flowers at the same time as females. If you only have one or two you might not get the pollination sucess you were expecting. Also don't expect more than two squash per plant and you won't be disappointed!

[Caro]

I'm currently saving and drying the seeds from a shop-bought Celebration Squash (and will do the same with the shop-bought Onion Squash when I eat it). I'm guessing that if these are grown commercially then they're likely to be in a big field of all the same type and may not have cross-pollinated.

Is it worth trying these seeds next year, or given the amount of space they take up and therefore that I can have only a limited number, should I buy seeds?

PS sticking more to the original thread, I can confirm than BNS was rubbish in west coast of Scotland this year .

And thanks very much for the link about squash tried & tested in Glasgow!

Caro

[Matt.]

Is it worth trying these seeds next year, or given the amount of space they take up and therefore that I can have only a limited number, should I buy seeds?

This is exactly my quandry. Given the effort and cost of digging, sowing, transplanting and composting I struggle to bring myself to risk sowing potentially rubbish seeds I've saved. Given a packet of 10 Potimarron seeds costs less than £2 its quite a gamble. Hmmmm!

[HeyWayne]

I've only recently discovered the joys of growing squash. My plot is going to be covered in them next year!

Had pretty decent (by my own reckoning) success with "Chestnut Squash" - about 6-7 fruits ranging from tennis ball size up to about 15-20 cm dia. I've also grown Chicago Warted Hubbard for teh first time and have a decent fruit from that which I'm very proud of - it's about 30 cm dia and is pretty heavy (haven't weighed it yet).

[Two_Sheds]

I would avoid the mini squash next time as they just aren't big enough after you've de-skined and de-seeded.

I would have thought that, however one little Hooligan/Gold Nuggt is just enough for us two.
Stab it a couple of times, microwave for 5 mins to soften it, then the skin slices off easily (let it cool a bit).
Cut it in half, scoop out the seeds with a spoon, stuff with a ricey mixture, smother with cheese and bake.

I love the little uns

[amandaandherveg]

I love the little uns

We had a Sweet Dumpling last week - cut into chunks and roasted with garlic, olive oil and red onion - again, perfect for 2. Hopefully I will have loads to roast next year.

[Alison]

My favourite is Harlequin, really tasty, had the first one from this year last night and it was so sweet and delicious.

[Lavenderblue]

here are a few pictures of our squashes. I am quite proud

- Onion Squash



Butternut - one of several


Blue Hubbard with a pumpkin in the background.

[chriscross1966]

You do realise you'll need powertools to get into those Hubbards by Christmas don't you?..... It was ages before anyone discovered how good they taste, they were originally grown as seige ammunition I'm scared to discover there's a Hubbard that announces itself as having a warted skin.... you must have to use a road-digger to get into it