Squash issues

theabsinthefairy · Sun Aug 12, 2007 11:54 am

Sorry MillyMollyMandy

Not trying to confuse you - I was just trying out my new photo posting skills!

Cheezy · Post: # 68461Post **Cheezy** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 11:52 am

Not a great year for m'curcubita. I planted two melon's, two pumpkins and one squash in my manure hot bed, a little late, and just before the rainy season hit!.
Got one pumpkin! a 6 foot long squash with no signs of it flowering, one dead melon, and one melon thats only just started to grow....don't think i'll be getting any melons or squashes this year.

chadspad · Post: # 69550Post **chadspad** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 2:30 pm

Ive just noticed that some of my butternuts have small, brown spots on them. The squashes are still green and look healthy enuf. Does anyone know what it might be or if it is normal please? Ive not done these before.

Millymollymandy · Mon Aug 27, 2007 9:25 am

I don't know what kind of spots you have but mine have had strange orangy/brown growths, I don't know how to describe it but almost like a rough fungi on the surface. It didn't affect the fruit inside or their storage at all though.

chadspad · Post: # 69574Post **chadspad** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 9:41 am

Hi M3 - these are only tiny but yes, like uve said, rough to feel. As long as theyre OK to eat then, its not a problem!

chadspad · Post: # 71578Post **chadspad** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 10:44 am

M3 - have u tried the potimarrons yet? Whatcha think?

Millymollymandy · Sun Sep 23, 2007 8:59 am

No, but we cut some more yesterday as the plants are starting to die off. The first one has been on the windowsill in the sun for a week so I'm going to try that soon. Come to think of it, we're having a roast tonight so there's my excuse to cut into it to see if it is ripe - roast pumpkin, yummo!

I counted and we have about 25 potimarrons and about 10 small butternuts!

chadspad · Post: # 71862Post **chadspad** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 9:19 am

Thats a great number! We had about 10 potimarrons but all were small. Butternuts are about the same number and a fairly good size althouhg theyre still ripening.

Enjoy your potimarron for dinner then!

Millymollymandy · Sun Sep 23, 2007 9:29 am

Ta, will report back! If it's not ripe the chooks will be happy as they love stewed pumpkin mush.

chadspad · Post: # 71897Post **chadspad** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 12:09 pm

Ive had some that ive only left to ripen for a week and theyve been fine. I just cut into bite size pieces and roast with potatos - it doesnt take very long either.

ina · Post: # 71969Post **ina** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 8:52 am

None of my pumpkins are bigger than tennis ball size...

Even my custard white marrows, which grew to enormous sizes last year (each time I wasn't looking!) are tiny.

Millymollymandy · Mon Sep 24, 2007 9:28 am

Well it was ripe!

and bloody delicious

Miles better than butternut - in fact I haven't had a decent roast pumpkin like that since I was in Aus or NZ - the right dry texture, no stringy bits and lovely nutty flavour.

The only downside is that they are really hard to cut into - took me about 5 mins to cut a wedge from one, and I didn't skin it as the skin is lovely roasted. Only I'll now have to make soup from the rest of that one so I'm not looking forward to the chopping involved!

Use the chainsaw maybe?

Millymollymandy · Mon Sep 24, 2007 9:30 am

ina wrote:None of my pumpkins are bigger than tennis ball size... Even my custard white marrows, which grew to enormous sizes last year (each time I wasn't looking!) are tiny.

I think you have that problem with your squash/pumpkins every year though Ina! I'd send you one only the postage might be a bit costly!