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Posted by veggieAl (U14716249) on Wednesday, 8th December 2010
I'm going to give squash growing a try next year, seems like a nice reliable supply of good, filling veg for later in the year!
The obvious choice was the good old Butternut, but then I began to question if another variety might be more suitable for me?
I live alone and cook mostly for myself, so would a smaller, more prolific fruiting squash be better for providing 1/2 meal-sized fruits for roasting etc?
What promted this thought was the fact that Butternut is just about the only squash regularly sold in supermarkets and we, as growers, well know that there veg selections are chosen for shelf life, uniformity and profitability...with TASTE being well down on the list of requirements!!
What other squashes do you enjoy growing and cooking?
Thanks, Al.
I have not grown butternut as I heard that it needed a long growing season and people only seemed to get a few from each plant. I have tried harlequin and sweet dumpling. Both were very prolific and ideal for cooking for one ( harlequin are bigger and serve 2). I have found sweet dumpling to be tastier - they are drier and sweeter, but the halequin got better with storage.
The plants do tend to take over though, one or two plants is plenty.
Good luck -
Caz
Al.
I grew these this year. A perfect 1 portion squash and delicious.
PJ
Potimarron. Compact and tasty (a slight chestnut flavour - hence the name), a lovely rusty orange colour and very easy to grow on my allotment's heavy clay. They store well too.
I too like the little potimarron which are sold here as Red Kuri. They have a good taste and store well. I've grown butternut a fewtimes but no matter how good the summer, they never have the rich flavour of ones grown in warmer climes.
I've grown blue Hungarian squash this year and gave spare plants to Belgian friends. They have been very impressed by the flavour.
Thank you all for your suggestions, I'm spoilt for choice now!
Have added them all to my fast-growing list of varieties to check out.
All my grass has gone and I'm now eyeing -up which flower beds I could do without!!
First of all, unless you are in the hottest part of the UK, give butternuts a miss as they take too long to produce fruit.
There are quite a few Winter Squashes that are as sweet as butternuts, but have more flavour and are much easier to grow.
For varieties and photos of suitable Winter Squash to grow in most of the UK, see this page :-
I have just made a soup with pumpkin Muscat de Provence. It is delicious and full of flavour. Another to add to your list.
I've never had success with butternut. My best varieties are Turks Turban and Ushiki Kuri. Not too big, great flavour and good keeping qualities.
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