Cover Story

[sewer rat]

Maybe I'm numerically challenged, but on the cover of this months GYO mag, it quite clearly states "GYO Reveals - Discover 8 great tasting courgettes"
Well, as I said, either I'm numerically challenged, my mag is missing an article or they're not telling the whole truth. The article names 8 varieties but only one of the eight - "Ambassador" - has the flavour mentioned. Four of the varieties are mentioned only in the body of the article, and then only because of their unusual shapes, whilst the four listed as "varieties to try" seem to be mentioned for colour, yield, disease resistance and as I mentioned , only one has any reference to taste.
What's going on

[smallblueplanet]

Dunno - but I can highly recommend 'striato d'italia'

courgette

and I love the custard marrows/patty pan - big or small they're very tasty!

[Shortie]

I saw that article about the Patty Pans and am interested, but they look very small so I didn't know how to cook them / peel them...?

[smallblueplanet]

They're a type of summer squash and seem to need a bit longer/warmer than courgettes to get going.

We grew some custard marrow successfully last year (just started 'em early) and you can eat them when they're quite small (1-2" across - when they're still thin skinned - just chop em up like courgettes) and also when they get large (6" or so - when the skin is 'hard' they need peeling) they have a nutty buttery taste and can keep for a while too.



you can almost see that they're a cool 'ufo' shape!

[andrewo]

I can recommend defender, good courgette, good resistance and gives a great crop.

[nick the grief]

I grew Sunburst custard squash last year thought it would be different. Trouble was no one liked it in our house. My Mum-in-law enjoyed it & the rest went to the Churche for Harvest festival - Very colourful. So this year it's back to Courgettes I think. I haven't read all the mag yet, but I flicked thru it and say "the coat" is in there plugging her stuff - bloody expensive that is I can tell you. and if you really want crystal apple cue's they are 90p I think from Tamar organics or Edwin tucker can't remember which one as opposed to the £1-95 she flogs them for.

[smallblueplanet]

err, you what nick? I ain't got the mag - 'the coat'? crystal apple cues?

ps just use custard squash/patty pan as you would courgette, they're great in bolognese and chilli's

[nick the grief]

Sorry, SBP, been away for a day or so & read the whole of this thread in one and replied accordingley. I shall try and hallucinate

I was sort of commenting on all the thread. This bit of the reply is aimed at Rat & andrew (i think)

1 - the coat Sarah "the Coat" Raven is in this months GYO Mag. & she's teamed up to supply some seeds.

2 - One of the seed that she is supplying is Crystal Apple Cucumbers (also called Crystal Lemon) cost £1-95

The sunburst bit was in reply to your post.

Sorry for the confusion but I'm still knacked from the 300 miles of driving yesterday

[andrewo]

No, not the coat, we know why you drove three hundred miles you were stalking her again

[nick the grief]

No I was off in the other direction Andrew!!! Nearly called in on you & Rat.

[pigletwillie]

I thought that it was Sarah "lace up wellies" Raven. Seriously now are them there patty pan things worth growing or should I stick with Courgettes and butternut squash?

[smallblueplanet]

Well piglet patty pans would get my vote - you can eat 'em small or large, they've got a good taste and a groovy shape! What more d'ya want????

[andrewo]

Did anyone catch the new gardners world? She had no coat on - do you think our conversations have got back to her? Can we get Rachel de Thame back with people power? Can we eradicate the smugness from Chris Beardshaw? Oh the possibilities.

[Amanda1]

Its Sarah Raven's hair that annoys me most, and the fact that she always seems to need a good wash. Rachel de Thame was also a favourite of mine, something very calming about her. Alan was my favourite, but now its firmly Monty

[Peter]

Don't get me started on the Raven, who I find very annoying, I'm with Nick on that subject.

Rachael is an ex-model and dresses appropriately for gardening, casual clothing and boots, no pretensions.

Sarah, skirt too tight to kneel, coat to dangle in whatever and catch on everything, nylons/woolies on the legs, hair styled so it has to be flicked back every thirty seconds, however that is her choice and her style, impractical though it seems to me perhaps she just likes to look her best on TV.
It is the presentational skills that stick in my craw, so patronising in tone, talking down to the viewer and laced with "I do it this way...." aaaggggghhhhhh.


OK, Meldrew moment over.

Piglet vis-a-vi Patty Pan, I have grown them and they fruit prolifically, just like courgettes in fact, however you can leave them up to ten inch size without problems, they store surprisingly well once cut. Use in stews, soups etc as well as normal courgette duties. They do not cook down quite as much as courgette, I would describe them as being a bit more "plastic" in texture. Great for harvesting if they are as yellow as the ones I growm, miss them not indeed.