2009 Squash Harvest

[biorag]

Sept 21, 2009 8:58:37 GMT -5 bunkie said:

neat wheelbarrow biorag! is it metal? beautiful squash!

Yes Bunkie, it's metal. What should I be without this wheelbarrow !
Varieties from Val and Dan. We have not still tasted them.

[grungy]

Be happy to when we get around to "butchering" them. Right now we are letting them finish curing. so I figure about the middle to the end of October.

[mnjrutherford]

So, um (I hesitate to ask this at the moment) how do you cure a squash?

[grungy]

You remove the squash from the vine when the rind is firm, then store preferably in a sunny, warm spot outside to finish hardening the rind. Then I wipe them off with a damp rag, followed by a rag dampened in bleach water, (1/4 cup -1/2 cup per gallon), allow to set for about 5-10 minutes, dry and let finish airing for at least 4 hours during the day. Then store in a cool dry area. I use the bleach rinse to make sure that there isn't any mold spores coming in with the squashes. We have kept butternut squash that way for over 18 months.

[ottawagardener]

And then there's my pathetic technique.

Cut stem as high as possible with sharp knife. Dust off slugs or clinging mud. Forget on picnic table in the sun for the rest of the day. Rescue in the evening so the rodents don't get them or the kids don't mistake them for toys the next day. Stick them on the bookshelf (dry and modestly cool down there) in the basement. Butternut keeps until the last pumpkin pie or well over a year...

Grungy's technique is by far better!

[mnjrutherford]

Yea Telsing, I like Val's technique better myself! ::laughing:: IF I ever get any squash, I'll aim for Val's methods and hope for yours! ;o) Life is SO delightfully crazy most of the time. But I am never ever bored!

[fergy]

Sept 13, 2009 3:18:10 GMT -5 grunt said:

Total weight 423 lbs. I'd hate to try and guess what we would have ended up eith if we'd had a good growing year.

Names to go with the numbers on the second photo:
1/ Bush Banana
2/ Hopi Orange
3/ Texas Indian
4/ Slovenska Golica
5/ Tonda Padana
6/ Tonda Padana
7/ Black Futsu
8/ Muscade de Provence
9/ QA341
10/ Arikaga
11/ Guatemalan Blue Banana
12/ Tennessee Sweet Potato
13/ Zapalito Italiano
14/ Permelon
15/ Violina
16/ Calabeza de Castille
17/ Futsu Kurokawa
18/ Warsaw Buff
19/ Hokkaido Stella Blue

It's obvious that some of my seed is either crossed, or mixed. Since I have never grown any of these varieties before, I have no idea which is the correct shape,size, or colour for any of them.
Tonda Padana has two distinct shapes and colorations, and each was on separate vines. Black Futsu isn't near as big as I think it is supposed to be, and I can't see where it would be called black.
Arikaga is all different shaped, but I think that is just environmental response. Permelon, I have no idea of what it should be, but I have two colorations, and 3 shapes.
But they are out of the garden, and waiting now. There will be seeds available for all of them, even the crosses/mistakes, once we figure out which end is up for the trading season, and get a chance to taste some of them at least.
Cheers
Dan & Val

[xdrix]

Your violina look like more at a shishigatani!