A Bit Of A Squash

 

Winter squash is a big hit with us. Harvest time is approaching and there is the usual mayhem in the cucurbit patch. A forest of leaves but what lies beneath?  While every plant has been labelled at the planting point the vines have travelled the width of the patch and well beyond laying down fruit at random intervals. 

Every plant is labelled at the planting point but has developed fruit after scrambling across its neighbours.  The conditions this year mean that fruit has not set reliably and the slugs have had a field day on a lot of immature fruits resting on the soil.  My strategy of planting parts from a bunk bed at either end of the patch for the vines to scramble up has proved a crop saver as the fruit in the best condition is raised off the ground.

This year I have grown:

Crown Prince

Buttercup

Uchiki Kuri

Marina Di Chioggia

No sign of the last one yet - although it was grown later than the other three. I have started harvesting at risk fruit to season at home in the dry. The Crown Prince is 4.5k so harvesting and transportation from the allotment has to be done a bit at a time.

Crown Prince and Uchiki Kuri

Sweet Dumplings and Drying Beans

 With the cold wind blowing it is time to enjoy some of the summer's stored treats: Sweet Dumplings squash.  One of these is just the right size for a person...

...once stuffed and baked.

The kitchen pulley is serving its purpose as a drier of beans.  These net bags are suitably positioned so that if you don't watch out you bump into them on entering and leaving.  This, together with the occasional rummage ensures good air circulation.  As the Barlotti bean pods dry they start shedding beans - a sure sign that they are ready for podding!

A Result

 

A year ago we grew winter squashes Crown Prince, Golden Hubbard and Uchiki Kuri in the school garden.  When October arrived the clamour went up.  Why don't you have any Halloween Pumpkins???  So this year I am happy to report that I have taken the criticism on board🙂

Here Come the Cucurbits

 

Another rainy day dissuades me from visiting the allotment.  Instead I am tending to the plants at home waiting for their invasion of the allotment.  OK these courgettes, squashes, pumpkins and cucumbers don't look quite so alien when they are in the greenhouse under natural light.

There are plenty seedlings awaiting improved weather.  You might spot the tomatoes which are having a temporary excursion out of the greenhouse, and there are runner beans and peas too.  I have plenty of spare alliums and a whole host of lobelia just needing to be found a final spot.

Also there are some later brassica seedlings.  More than enough to fill the garden, allotment and school garden!

It is a relief to get to the direct sowing.  Soon I will have to reconfigure the greenhouse for the tomatoes and cucumbers.

Note To Self

 The cucurbits have curled up,  the beans have been, the lettuce is letting up - it's that time of year again.  Time to take stock.  What worked - and what didn't?

Worked                                            

• Winter Squash
• Carrots under nets
• Potatoes
• Raspberries
• Blueberries
• Tosca onions from seed
• Late season lettuces and Italian Endive varieties

No Go

• Sweetcorn - Three strikes and you are out.  
• Spanish Flag (Ipomoea lobata) and Spanish Dancer (Linaria reticulata) - These belong in Spain and don't like the climate in Edinburgh
• French Climbing Beans  - no competition for runner beans.  Dwarf French beans don't seem to be as sensitive.  Curiously Italian Barlotti beans don't seem to be as temperamental.  Mind you they are  grown for drying not for pods.
• French Cornet Endive varieties.  Cornet de Bordeaux bolted every time.

Happy Potatoes

French beans left - Runners right

Tosca Onions

Pumpkins on Parade

 Well winter squashes actually.  Here's this year's allotment crop

The long yellow ones should be Butternut F1 Hunter, but I think there must have been a mix up with the crossing as these look more like Banana Squash or even Spaghetti Squash.  I will report once it has been cut open and cooked.

Not sure whether this is Blue Uchi Kuri or Crown Prince.  That will teach me to grow such similar varieties.

Size isn't everything - These cheeky Uchiki Kuri are perfectly sized and one was the first to go under the knife

Very sweet and tasty it was too!