Spring sowing squashes and pumpkins

[SarzWix]

Pumpkin 'Jack of all Trades' has always managed to produce for me, even in a really rubbish year like last year, which is great because it keeps the kids interested in the plot (especially if they can 'ner ner ner' at me that their pumpkin is growing and my other squashes aren't )

I think I've managed to crack butternut squash growing though, even this far north, by planting them in the polytunnel between the tomato plants They rambled all over, providing ground cover, and produced 4 small fruits on each plant. I was very happy with that, 'cause we all love butternuts

[Laura Hillier]

Hahaha, nothing like a little healthy competition between the family when it comes to pumpkin growing! What does everybody else find to be family pleasers?

Laura

[chris]

Different coloured ones for me, with young kids.

A failsafe for me, last year on zazen's recommendation was white serpent. Went beserk, and I still have two squash left, they're storing incredible well, on a par with crown prince.

[Rhona]

Our Crown Prince and Turks Turban are still storing well, although we're now down to our last five and one's 'on the turn.' We tried Connecticut Field last year and whilst they were fab for Hallowe'en, they didn't taste great. TT is Mr R's favourite, so more of that, Kuri, Crown Prince and BNS mainly this year I think. And anything else we can squeeze in.

[binley100]

*reaches for a tissue to clean the screen..........

My favourite at the moment is golden hubbard .......why? because last summer they were the only ones that fought back against the slugs, snails and blimmin' awful weather

Scratch that .......found the label and they weren't Golden hubbard they were in fact Sucrette .....I'm easily confused

[RedThorn]

agreed, grows well here too

I like gemsquash. Ive never grown anything like squash or marrow but im willing to give it a go if I get chance.
Lynne x

[shona_b]

We grew a good selecton last year but the Hunter BNS was the best cropper - we are still eating them now as they have stored well. Spaghetti squash (hasta la pasta) also did OK but quite small fruits (so short spaghetti!). But for its prolific cropping it has to be the Pottimaron - this year I will be removing some of the later fruits to encourage fewer larger ones. They have slowly ripened to orange on my windowsills over the winter and we still have quite a few left! There is also always one large pumpkin grown for competition - atlantic giant or similar - 76KGs to beat last years lottie winner!

[Jelliebabe]

Ooooh love squashes my faves to grow. I loved hooligan squashes this year - lovely size not too enormous, and fab nutty flavour - still storing well too - I grew patty pan in 2011 and we all loved them - especially stuffed . will do them again. Also love my yellow round courgettes as they grew soooooooo well last year.