It seems that I can't NOT grow pumpkins....

[Peggy Sue]

Oh I've tried so hard to grow dill and you have it as a weed

[Millymollymandy]

Yes it's everywhere and just looks brilliant with other tall things like Verbena Bonariensis - which also grows as a weed here!

I think the trick is when you have something that self seeds it is much tougher I reckon than sown ones. However you've got to get some to germinate first and then flower and go to seed!

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[Peggy Sue]

I think the trick is when you have something that self seeds it is much tougher I reckon than sown ones. However you've got to get some to germinate first and then flower and go to seed!

I agree, everything that self seeds seems to be so much tougher.... I'll keep trying

[Millymollymandy]

Here are some photos of my self seeded potimarrons.

There was a big un behind the green bin pressing against the fence wire which is now on my windowsill!

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There were some old pallet bins here but we took them down, and gave these ones some support as they're dangling.

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Coming into the veg patch and growing amongst and over the courgettes and french beans....

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P.S. Marigolds are there because that's where my original long gone blighted toms were. The one which I took a side shoot from and shoved in the ground is there in this photo (lost amongst a sea of green!) and is very healthy. Photo of it on the rude veg thread!

[ina]

A friend of mien grows potimarron near where I live, and has promised me some when they are ready! Seems they do really well here.

[Millymollymandy]

Ate my first mini potimarron roasted last night - yum yum, I'm pleased really that I've got some after all! 2 x minis, 2 x mediums and 2 x reasonably big and one on the other side of the fence that I can't get at!

[cochlear_nerve]

I've got some squash plants which seem healthy and have been flowering but then the flowers seem to disappear completely ... I suspect slugs but any other potential culprits (and any remedies?) ... By what time do they need to have developed any fruit (in the UK) before they're a waste of time or can they just stay in the ground all year?

[Odsox]

I've totally changed my mind about Potimarrons.
When I first tried one about a couple of months ago I wasn't that taken with it, I was used to Butternuts and Potimarrons are not at all sweet.
Now for some reason I absolutely love them roasted, maybe it's that they are more ripe now or maybe it's all in the mind.
Good job too as the two of us have still got 11 large ones to eat this winter. (That's between 22 & 33 meals, depending on how hoggish we are !!)

Oh, and they really do taste of roast chestnuts ... at least I think they do.

[Odsox]

I've got some squash plants which seem healthy and have been flowering but then the flowers seem to disappear completely ... I suspect slugs but any other potential culprits (and any remedies?) ... By what time do they need to have developed any fruit (in the UK) before they're a waste of time or can they just stay in the ground all year?

If they haven't got any full sized fruit on them by now, then it's too late for this year, I'm afraid.
It's not possible to overwinter them in Oxford, as the first frost they will be toast ... or rather a horrible mushy mess.

[Peggy Sue]

I've totally changed my mind about Potimarrons.
When I first tried one about a couple of months ago I wasn't that taken with it, I was used to Butternuts and Potimarrons are not at all sweet.
Now for some reason I absolutely love them roasted, maybe it's that they are more ripe now or maybe it's all in the mind.
Good job too as the two of us have still got 11 large ones to eat this winter. (That's between 22 & 33 meals, depending on how hoggish we are !!)

Oh, and they really do taste of roast chestnuts ... at least I think they do.

Thats interesting, I was considering growing them next year but had never tried them (or possibly acorn or crook neck just to give it a go)

[Odsox]

I tried yellow crookneck this year and was disappointed with it.
Tasteless and less prolific that courgettes, I pulled it up after trying it several times.
I can send you the seeds I have left if you like as I won't be trying it again.

[Peggy Sue]

mmm not much of an advert....thanks for the offer but...I may try the potimarrons, I like nutty tastes

[Millymollymandy]

You're right Odsox about them being fantastic roasted. I've had wonderful roasted pumpkin in Australia but never found a pumpkin/squash in England or France that could emulate that texture or taste until I roasted potimarron. Roasted butternuts just turn to watery mush and they just don't 'do' anything for me!

If you like pumpkin in curries or anything that involves pumpkin cut into cubes and cooked in liquid then potimarron holds itself together for much longer than butternut, which again turns to mush quickly.

So for me butternut is the stuff I use for cakes and pies and potimarrons for roasting and curries. I didn't like potimarron soup as it wasn't sweet but my husband and brother do - but after too much of a good thing I don't like butternut soup any more either!

[Peggy Sue]

When I went to Auz they roasted their pumpkin in orange juice, I guess that will make some sor of difference, but not to texture I doubt.

I do love butternuts...haven't overdosed yet but may happen this year with the amount I've grown!