Growing Winter Squash

[Colin Miles]

I grew Hunter this year but the lack of sun and the shade that most of the plants got from the sweetcorn meant only those around the edges actually produced any fruit. Admittedly they provided enough for 1 delicious meal for 6 people. So having read the comments about Crown Prince I am thinking about growing that and possibly Hunter as well, but up a trellis or canes and netting so that they get maximum sunshine. Anyone any suggestions or comments about this method?

[glallotments]

We tried growing Crown Prince up a pole wigwam - quite a sturdy one but all the fruit came on the bits that trailed on the ground. No fruit higher up. The fruits are large though so it was possibly a good thing as they would have needed lots of support.

[Gerry]

Hi Colin,
I grew butternut squash from supermarket bought fruit. One in the greenhouse did very well trained up canes and then along the roof tied to string. I got six mature fruits. One I tried eating one earlier in the year, it was very disappointing and lacked flavour but one partially eaten today was lovely. I had to make net bags to support them of course. Others in the polytunnel scrambled along the ground but three fruits were trained up canes and proved to be the better size by far.

I started a thread entitled "Help with butternut squash please" at the beginning of October in "Harvesting questions and answers" and several people were most helpful.

Hope this helps.
Regards, Gerry.

[Westi]

I have a Crown Prince that is still growing over my back
fence. It came from the little patch of seeds that the
mice hoarded behind the compost. The fence is about
8ft high chainlink and the vine covers the full height and
about 10 foot length and hanging on the school side is
4 fruit. 3 are medium sized but one has reached a good
size. It must be quite heavy and is not supported at all
and has survived the gales as well.

I am trying to convince hubby to climb the fence and get it
as can't access the school anymore as they have put in
gates that they lock. He is not convincing me with his argument
about the blackberry thorns also growing there so am still working
on him as would be a shame to see it frosted.

Westi

[Colin Miles]

Thanks Gerry. Yes, I did read your thread which is why I am going for Crown Prince this year. But a matter of deciding whether to grow them up or along.

[Colin_M]

having read the comments about Crown Prince I am thinking about growing that but up a trellis or canes and netting so that they get maximum sunshine.

Hi colin, I'd definitely recommend Crown Prince (and many others do too). If you like the full flavoured, slightly chestnutty tasting ones, I'd also suggest Marina di Chioggia too.

I've never tried them above the ground, but a neighbour did (with different varieties) and got a fair number of fruit. As you've realised, if you get decent sized fruit of either of the above, they will be pretty heavy so carefull netting will be essential. You can see that this topic has come up before - have a look here

I'd be interested to know if other people feel that growing them above ground actually helps overcome shading (surely the lower sections are then shaded bythe growth above??!).

[peter]

Gave a work colleague a Crown Prince today and she nearly smashed her hand.
Thought it weighed in like a Butternut instead of more like a cannonball!

[jane E]

I grow my Crown Prince in raised beds and train them along the paths, which are chippings. Takes up very little useful space.

[Nature's Babe]

I grew turks turban squash on a frame over the ground where my peas grew, I left the pea vines to decompose where they grew, mulched over with straw, and the squash rambled over the frame above, I had about 8 or nine large squash and about the same later smaller ones, they were all delicious and the shape lends itself to stuffing, they ripened nicely.The soil there is in lovely condition now. The courgettes were victims of slugs though being nearer the ground, it pays to grow cucurbits up something.

[Mike Vogel]

I grew Cobnut from the OGC. I thought that in spite of good growth only one of my 4 bushes had produced - until I came to realise that the small round fruits were actually the same as the properly-shaped one. The flesh is quite a full reddish colour and the taste is delicious. it is a great soup base.

[Nature's Babe]

Squash make a good base for soup, if you can get hold of some pataks prawn bachilow fry a spoonful or two with onions and then add stock and squash, bitz when tender, makes a superb soup for non veggies.

[realfood]

In an independent taste test, BonBon was rated the best tasting Winter Squash. Festival and Sweet lightening are also very sweet and all these are probably best eaten as a standalone vegetable or in pumpkin pies, rather than soup.