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Post by castanea on Jul 22, 2009 20:34:07 GMT -5
I am already planning ahead for next year. Does anyone know anything about the taste of the Peruvian squash/pumpkin Zapallo Macre? I don't have seed yet but I occasionally see the seed listed.
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Post by mnjrutherford on Aug 1, 2009 14:25:37 GMT -5
We don't get pumpkins here. The squash borers nail em pretty early. We managed to get a few zuchs and crooknecks as well as some cukes. But again, squash bugs like crazy. I'll keep my eyes peeled for you though. Think these might be bug proof to some degree?
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Post by castanea on Aug 2, 2009 13:44:12 GMT -5
Ir certainly isn't a common squash in North America so I don't know much about it. It is a huge squash that is loved in South America.
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Post by mnjrutherford on Aug 3, 2009 11:33:43 GMT -5
hmmm.. sounds interesting. If you decide to pop for some seed, I'd love to have 2 or 3. Speaking of which, how are the carrots going?
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Post by Antoinine on Aug 5, 2009 18:56:34 GMT -5
I have a friend from Uruguay and she is frantically looking for "Zapallito" squash seed. Is this the same? If so can you share a seed source? Much appreciated.
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Post by castanea on Aug 11, 2009 23:31:44 GMT -5
I don't think it's the same. I think there are a half dozen different kinds of zapollo including the little one your friend is looking for. But I don't presently have a seed source for any of them.
I just checked and Bobby seeds does not have it which means it may be hard to find.
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Post by canadamike on Aug 12, 2009 0:50:52 GMT -5
There are 3 cucurbita maxima and one cucurbita pepo under the ''Zapallo'' name, the maximas from Bolivia and the peope from Ecuador.
Some of us could get them ;D
There would have to be some reporting on performance and pictures taken, though... seed banks are not a general store...
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Post by castanea on Aug 12, 2009 22:10:27 GMT -5
Hi Michel,
What I'm looking for is the very large maxima. My plans for next year are very limited but I would like to include the big zapollo and would be glad to report on it.
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Post by grungy on Aug 13, 2009 3:34:18 GMT -5
Castanea, please define big.
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Post by castanea on Aug 13, 2009 22:35:56 GMT -5
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Post by grunt on Aug 13, 2009 23:49:38 GMT -5
Did a google and followed a few links to find this: "Zapallo (Winter Squash). The squash 2 (Cucurbita maxima), called “zapallo” (pronounced za-pie-oh) in the Andes, is of exclusively South American origin. Its center of diversity lies in northern Argentina, Bolivia, southern Peru, and northern Chile, but by the 1400s it had been spread northward throughout the warmer parts of the Inca realm. 3 At the time of Columbus, it was still confined to South America, but today it is widely grown throughout the world, particularly in Europe, India, the Philippines, and the United States. It is a winter-type 4 squash and includes the table vegetable most often called “pumpkin,” as well as many common vegetables called “squash.” More tolerant to cool temperatures than other squashes, this species is grown as far south as the limits of agriculture in Chile. Using this species, Chile and Peru have developed the most gigantic form of all commercial “pumpkins.” Fruits of 20–40 kg are commonly found in markets. This squash is noted for its rich diversity—some authorities claim it has more forms than any other cultivated plant. In the main, the fruits are cylindrical, often bulbous, and have a central cavity filled with fibers and seeds. Some brightly colored, highly attractive varieties have become extremely popular specialty vegetables in the United States in recent years. Chilean varieties that have become common foods in the United States include Acorn, Banana, Boston Marrow, Buttercup, Golden Delicious, and Hubbard." from www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=1398&page=204 Zapallo can reach giant size. (H. Popenoe) Sorry about the size of the photo. By the way, the book this is from is available for online reading free. It is "Lost Crops of the Incas: Little-Known Plants of the Andes with Promise for Worldwide Cultivation (1989) " available at www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=1398
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Post by grunt on Aug 14, 2009 0:06:40 GMT -5
I searched PCGRIN, and the closest I can find is a maxima locally called "Zapallo grande", that goes to 50 Kg, collected from Pacanguilla, Chepen, La Libertad, Peru. They have no entries, available or not, by the name "Zapallo Macre".
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