As you will know if you read Martyn's blog, we gathered up our squashes this week. We grew three varieties this year, Crown Prince which we find reliable most years, Futsu Black which is really a very dark green and Vegetable Spaghetti.
The squash were planted in three parts of the plot. Alongside the sweet peas, behind some tall growing peas and under the sweet corn and runner beans.
I didn't think we had many fruits until I started searching amongst the fading foliage. The best crop came from the plants alongside the sweet peas which probably enjoy the best sunshine. Some of the plants had joined the sweet peas and scrambled up the hazel supports. I found a couple of Crown Prince hanging grape-like (huge grapes) part way up the supports. Not quite as high above ground as Lorraine's over at The Goodlife - Well Maybe.
The ones growing amongst the runner beans were probably the least productive with some vines producing no fruit at all.
The ones growing behind the peas were a bit of a surprise. These were the Futsu Blacks. Initially I thought I could see just one fruit but was surprised by how many I found. Where the fruits had rested on the mulch the skins had turned yellow. I think like Lorraine we may be thinking of trailing some squash up supports next year.
I loaded the squash into a wheelbarrow to transport to the car but as I set off and the wheelbarrow tipped precariously it was immediately apparent that I needed to call for emergency assistance and Martyn came to take over.
Each fruit had been removed from the vine leaving a part of the vine to form a T-shaped handle. This is supposed to stop moisture seeping down the stem of the fruit and causing it to rot.
The fruits have now been set out in the greenhouse to cure and hopefully store through winter. Martyn weighed the haul and popped the results on his blog here
PS If you enjoyed my piggie pictures then you will love Martyn's video of the piglets here on his blog.
I loaded the squash into a wheelbarrow to transport to the car but as I set off and the wheelbarrow tipped precariously it was immediately apparent that I needed to call for emergency assistance and Martyn came to take over.
PS If you enjoyed my piggie pictures then you will love Martyn's video of the piglets here on his blog.
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That's a great harvest. We all enjoy squash so I want to get lots more plants in next year, there's only a couple to harvest this year. I was hoping that my patty pan summer squash would do better than they have too.
ReplyDeleteJusy hoping the store well, JO
ReplyDeleteInteresting about leaving the T on the stem. Thanks Sue. Love the big blues, Crown Prince are they? About how many to a plant? We tried Long Island Cheese this year and got three squash out of four plants. Maybe try a different variety next year.
ReplyDeleteThey are Crown Prince Bren. We only managed about one or two fruits per plant.
DeleteWe planted six of each variety
DeleteIf I had room to grow them, I'd love to have some Squashes. There is something deeply attractive about them. Maybe it's the fact that most of them keep so well.
ReplyDeleteCould you grow one o trail up a structure Mark?
DeleteWow that is a fabulous harvest, they should keep you going for months, I've never seen the almost black variety before, they look good.
ReplyDeleteThe black variety is a first for us too Annie?
DeleteYou had a very good crop. The British varieties seem to be rather different from the North-American ones.
ReplyDeleteThere are lots and lots of varieties to choose from, Alain.
DeleteThat's quite a haul! TNG is not a squash fan, but if I get my sturdy supports organised I hope to grow some smaller squash up an arch next year, I can eat them for lunches then and they won't take up so much precious space. I love the look of the black ones.
ReplyDeleteWe have yet to find out what the black ones taste like, Janet.
DeleteI think it's wonderful to harvest the squash, the size of them make it so rewarding. Wow, you have some BEAUTIES there!xxxx
ReplyDeleteJust hope that they live up to their promise, Snowbird
DeleteWow, that is a really impressive squash harvest Sue. I'm determined to grow more winter squash next year - maybe Crown Prince, I've noted that you find it quite reliable. I just have some ukiri kichi left this year, and one spaghetti squash. I blew up a spaghetti squash in the microwave last week actually, when I was being impatient and trying to cook it quickly. Took a while to clean the microwave. There's a lesson in there. Hope you both have a good weekend.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the warning CJ
DeleteWow...that's a lot of squash...what do you do with them??
ReplyDeleteWe'll probably have some squash 'pumpkin' pie, maybe some soup and we use them in curries and other casserole type recipes., Tanya. I'll also be on the look out for more interesting recipes.
ReplyDelete