My first cucurbit harvest

[galtezza]

I think I must have perfect growing conditions for cucurbits!
My first time at veggie gardening this year, and I have started harvesting my pumpkins, butternut squash and canteloupe melons - all grown outside on raised beds.

I have another 5 pumpkins still ripening, 27 more butternut squash and 15 more melons - so it seems to be the perfect crop for my region.

I'm very proud!

[shona_b]

congratulations! Look great. I had my first stuffed "summerball" last night and it was delicious - really pretty looking too with multiple orange / yellow globes on bush plant. Highly recommended.

[sowitgrowit]

That is a wonderful 'family portrait' of squash!

Congratulations on a great harvest!

Mine still look like this!

[veggiechicken]

At first glance I thought you had big orange cushions! They all look fantastic. I'd be really proud if I'd grown just one of them

[galtezza]

Thanks everyone. I think we are lucky down here in the Dordogne - combination of lots of sunshine and showers through July and then some steaming heat in August. Plus I think the amount of manure I put in the raised beds probably helped.
I am definitely going to grow more squash next year. They can replace the turnips and swedes that succumbed to flea beetle.
Ate the first home grown canteloupe melon, and it was so yummy - really sweet and juicy. Looking forward to all the rest!

[veggiechicken]

Now you're just rubbing it in, galtezza
That melon looks delicious - enjoy it

[Florence Fennel]

Well done tg, they're fabulous, you've every right to be proud Hope you're entering the Virtual Show?

[Kestrel]

Now you're just rubbing it in, galtezza

Aren't you just!!
They look fab and great photo too. I was proud of two medium pumpkins and six small winter squash this year, given the weather, then I saw yours. Made me feel better when I saw that you are in France, though.

[Newton]

I have itchy pieds.

[chris]

Squash are great, I grow loads each year - they're very versatile and store for ages given the right conditions. I think I had one in the fridge, cut in half that kept for a month odd - incredible! You should give Crown Prince a go too, galtezza -it has an amazing taste, and as above stores for a very long time.

If my wife said lets move to france, I'd be packing the car before she could even complete the sentence!!

[Barking Postlethwaite]

They look wonderful.

It's been a good year for squashes, pumpkins and courgettes on the whole for me. The only real disappointment has been the butternut squash - two glorious plants and not a fruit between them. I put it down to dereliction of duty by the local bees.

The pièce de résistance has undoubtedly been my pale-skinned Franch potiron (variety unknown). I grew it in isolation in the garden last year and it made a decent football-sized squash, but this year on the allotment it has gone beserk. It's going to be a two-man job to get the larger of the two fruits into the wheelbarrow. I must remember to post a photo when I get it home. Shame I've got no seeds left - it's been fun.