Onions & Pumpkins.....

[Millymollymandy]

The French for a pumpkin of the Halloween variety is Potiron, and a Potimarron is I believe so called because it resembles a marron (chestnut) in shape - well I think I read this somewhere, so don't quote me!

[chadspad]

I read its supposed to actually taste like a chestnut - but dont quote me either lol. Will let u know eventually!

[hedgewizard]

About three weeks should do for ripening, but if you make sure you leave a couple of inches of "neck" and keep them somewhere cool and well ventilated they'll keep for months so don't be in too much of a hurry!

[chadspad]

But I am in a hurry - Im gagging to try one lol. 3 weeks blimey!

Thanks for the help

[chadspad]

Update on my potimarrons!
I had one for dinner last night, roasted with my tatties and it was delicious!! I thought the texture was very much like chestnuts whereby it was sort of dry and what I would call chokey, a texture I love but my husband doesnt - he thinks it would be nicer mashed with butter. The flavour was sweet. I was very filling too. Highly recommended!

[Millymollymandy]

Goodo - glad they were nice! How many have you got?

[chadspad]

Ive got another 6 altho these are smaller. Started off with there being 14 but loads of them dropped off. I have another plant growing thats only just starting to flower - dont know whether there will be time for any success now.

[digiveg]

Don't know very much about pumpkins, though my daughter used to grow them where we lived up in the hills in n. California. She saved seeds every year, and every year out popped the same round orange things. Amazing.

Anyway: re. the original question about onions, when you've dried them, try rolling the stem between your fingers, just above the bulb. If it feels squishy, then they're not dry enough to store. Onions need to be REALLY dry for long-term storage, especially if you're going to plait them into strings.