Winter squash and melons

[DallasFigShop]

I really am excited about these winter squash varieties as I was about figs at first... I still love figs but had alot on my plate last year, they were some fairly neglected trees... but i kept them watered and gathered a few figs...

I started learning about these because of the South Anna thread, and it has been a fairly deep rabbit hole... there are alot! Pumkins and squash, heirlooms, hybrids ... newer fancy and imported strains...some small, some 60lbs, butternut squash at 130 lbs+... and so im trialing a bunch this year

Im excited about the newer varieties I find at the grocery, a few already i like more than the standard Butternut.. Im wanting to explore and produce alot for food stores, since they keep for several months.. and also i want to cross some and keep some generations going, to figure out which ones love our hot climate ... in the past weve only raised summer squash so this should be interesting

and maybe from the experiment I can help create a new hybrid or improvement at some point... they are getting fancy with these ..

Melons I have not tried hard they like Sandler soil than what we have but yeara ago I maybe have pulled off a few and cantaloupe seem to be easier ... but this year I will give Isreal melons a go and possibly Golden Honeydew to see how they dew ... ..

The Israel melon seeds from a fruit I got at the local farmers market - it was mind blowingly delicious. It was alot like custard maybe the highest brix in a fruitz like a custard flavored melon, very juicy but as sweet as a mejdool im not sure which is sweeter ...

If anyone grows melons I have alot of seeds that came from a large sized fruit


Please report on any curcubits that you've grown, and where, how they produced or taste ... issues or resistance etc..

and any of your own crosses or techniques... anything winter squash or meloms curcubits ... ill be trying Suyi Long Cucumbers, Patty Pan Squash and Smooth Criminal yellow squash, its like a columnar squash plant

Please share recommendations or etc. I can update with my experiences too

These are some Delicatas from a couple of grocers locally. The bottom row from a differnt storez smaller and with a smoother appearance the honey colored ones are Candystick

I went back to another location and got more. They had squattier but thicker Delicatas.. The one on the right is around 4 inches thick these are fairly heavy 1.5-2lbs each. The yellow are not intensely sweet but they grow in your the smaller yellow/cream colored ones at first bite were like yucca woth no sweetness, but improved in the fridge... I understand some strains may have ripening variations

Note the two yellow ones...the farmer puts one yellow in each of their delicata presentations i think

And a trio of Carnival Squash at different ripening stages and that I will be sampling soon

also the Honeynut cut open next to an Acorn. These are a real treat, especially after being chilled, sort of like a very rich buttenut with pumpkin flavor and similar texture to a sweet potato, almost the same thing but sweeter... also the pumpkin flavor receded in the fridge in my first sample ... my favorite so far

and Mashed Potato squash- which really do taste like top tier mashed potatoes when you add butter! Just air fry or roast with some oil, add butter, voila

 

[ElSquatcho]

I’ll have to dig out my squash seeds. I grow mainly summer squash but one I grew was a really good summer squash then turned into a better winter squash. I’ve been wanting to try more melons. I’ve only done few different kinds of watermelon.

 

[BucksCountyFigs]

I have a really good growing tip for Asian cucumbers. Grow them up a wire fence or cattle pen fencing. I especially like a curved cattle pen trellis, which I did and then you walk underneath and just harvest all these long cucumbers that hang down through to the inside of the trellis!

Since the fruit grows hanging straight down, you will essentially get perfect cucumbers, and they are not affected by any issues of where they touch the soil.

 

[DallasFigShop]

I have a really good growing tip for Asian cucumbers. Grow them up a wire fence or cattle pen fencing. I especially like a curved cattle pen trellis, which I did and then you walk underneath and just harvest all these long cucumbers that hang down through to the inside of the trellis!

Since the fruit grows hanging straight down, you will essentially get perfect cucumbers, and they are not affected by any issues of where they touch the soil.

I have been considering something like that.. for cucumbers and for squash. Even some of the heavy pumpkins seem to hold on.. . A video called it a cattle arch I think? Or some kind of arch... I could make one too

 

[DallasFigShop]

I’ll have to dig out my squash seeds. I grow mainly summer squash but one I grew was a really good summer squash then turned into a better winter squash. I’ve been wanting to try more melons. I’ve only done few different kinds of watermelon.

Please update about your summer squash... im anxious to try the Patty Pans. I got some that are probably crossed with white and yellow and probably with zucchini also... and i got a packet of Bennington Green Tint on the way as well as Golden Zucchini which is said to be slightly higher in copper content...@ off season from the pears

 

[DallasFigShop]

I learned about this squash right after learning more about the Anna Hybrid ...
This one doubles as a summer and a large storeable winter squash...

Someone in a video said also that seminole pumpkins or Cherokee Tan are edible in the green stage .. not sure but maybe worth a try

This one im really eager to try in its different stages... there is one that looks similar that is called 'Tahitian' Squash or Tahitian Melon.

 

[Tridrama]

Zucchino Rampicante is one of my favorites to grow. It is very versatile. Cut green, they cook up like zucchini. If you allow them to grow out like a winter squash, the largest I've grown was 4 feet long. You can make both sweet and savory dishes with them. They take on a butternut-like texture and taste. I've stored one for an entire year with no damage.

I ran across this variety while looking for a squash that would be resistant to pests such as squash bugs and squash vine borer. The SVB was not able to fully penetrate the vine, but by year 3 of growing it, one or two got through the outer skin but could get no further. The flesh is really thick.

 

[ElSquatcho]

I learned about this squash right after learning more about the Anna Hybrid ...
This one doubles as a summer and a large storeable winter squash...

Someone in a video said also that seminole pumpkins or Cherokee Tan are edible in the green stage .. not sure but maybe worth a try

This one im really eager to try in its different stages... there is one that looks similar that is called 'Tahitian' Squash or Tahitian Melon.

This is the one I grew! It grew like crazy and took over half of my garden but the squash were really good.

 

[ktrain]

I'm on this band wagon too...sheesh it's a hole almost as deep as figs. lol

 

[DallasFigShop]

I found some important information in the rabbit hole!

Apparently Toxic Squash Syndrome(TSS) is a thing... Occasionally squash hybrids will overproduce a chemical known a cucubitacins which is meant to serve as the plants defense against insects... it maybe due to genetics or crossing with gourds or wild relatives of squash and it makes the fruit taste noticeably bitter @... spit it out, dont swallow, dont eat it

The original article i read said that an early version of the Delicata types went around and luckily someone maintained a good line because what went around made alot of people sick and made alot of people mad... reading about the symptoms makes it not seem like a fun thing at all!

And so if experimenting with your own crosses or if you grow gourds and non edible squash near the food bearing plants, be mindful about the seeds especially... some cases are of people who were aware and simply tasted the squash and it made them sick and discomforted all day...

Its probably rare but Reddit had several testimonies i found in just a fast google
... it is maybe unlikely with fruit grown in some places... One read described it as being caused from an Acorn squash ... so far the reports ive read seem to be common with C. Pepo varieties .. ill be reading up on it some more

 

[LaFigGwr18]

I really am excited about these winter squash varieties as I was about figs at first... I still love figs but had alot on my plate last year, they were some fairly neglected trees... but i kept them watered and gathered a few figs...

I started learning about these because of the South Anna thread, and it has been a fairly deep rabbit hole... there are alot! Pumkins and squash, heirlooms, hybrids ... newer fancy and imported strains...some small, some 60lbs, butternut squash at 130 lbs+... and so im trialing a bunch this year

Im excited about the newer varieties I find at the grocery, a few already i like more than the standard Butternut.. Im wanting to explore and produce alot for food stores, since they keep for several months.. and also i want to cross some and keep some generations going, to figure out which ones love our hot climate ... in the past weve only raised summer squash so this should be interesting

and maybe from the experiment I can help create a new hybrid or improvement at some point... they are getting fancy with these ..

Melons I have not tried hard they like Sandler soil than what we have but yeara ago I maybe have pulled off a few and cantaloupe seem to be easier ... but this year I will give Isreal melons a go and possibly Golden Honeydew to see how they dew ... ..

The Israel melon seeds from a fruit I got at the local farmers market - it was mind blowingly delicious. It was alot like custard maybe the highest brix in a fruitz like a custard flavored melon, very juicy but as sweet as a mejdool im not sure which is sweeter ...

If anyone grows melons I have alot of seeds that came from a large sized fruit
View attachment 17714

Please report on any curcubits that you've grown, and where, how they produced or taste ... issues or resistance etc..

and any of your own crosses or techniques... anything winter squash or meloms curcubits ... ill be trying Suyi Long Cucumbers, Patty Pan Squash and Smooth Criminal yellow squash, its like a columnar squash plant

Please share recommendations or etc. I can update with my experiences too

These are some Delicatas from a couple of grocers locally. The bottom row from a differnt storez smaller and with a smoother appearance the honey colored ones are Candystick
View attachment 17713
I went back to another location and got more. They had squattier but thicker Delicatas.. The one on the right is around 4 inches thick these are fairly heavy 1.5-2lbs each. The yellow are not intensely sweet but they grow in your the smaller yellow/cream colored ones at first bite were like yucca woth no sweetness, but improved in the fridge... I understand some strains may have ripening variations
View attachment 17709
Note the two yellow ones...the farmer puts one yellow in each of their delicata presentations i think

And a trio of Carnival Squash at different ripening stages and that I will be sampling soon
View attachment 17710
also the Honeynut cut open next to an Acorn. These are a real treat, especially after being chilled, sort of like a very rich buttenut with pumpkin flavor and similar texture to a sweet potato, almost the same thing but sweeter... also the pumpkin flavor receded in the fridge in my first sample ... my favorite so far
View attachment 17711
and Mashed Potato squash- which really do taste like top tier mashed potatoes when you add butter! Just air fry or roast with some oil, add butter, voila
View attachment 17712

I have been thinking of growing a melon in my back yard. Would recommendations....

 

[DallasFigShop]

I have been thinking of growing a melon in my back yard. Would recommendations....

I have seeds from an Israel Melon in the OP photo I got it from Dallas Farmers Market... there isnt possibly a better melon imo! No political ties btw I just looked and it smelled good... it was maybe the highest brix fruit I ever tasted. slices that I took longwise were probably over a footlong!

Another i recommend that are available in stores is Golden Honeydew. I kept store seeds from the best ones also...

Both of these have white flesh and were exceptionally sweet, the Honeydew with maybe a slightly smaller peak ripeness window, but excellent ... only one that i got wasnt as good...

no telling how these were pollinated but ive got seeds .. if you will grow some i dint mind sending some ...and they are also available at online seed suppliers ...

I think IM are just so sweet that they dont store well enough for regular markets... note that their seem to be two different ones.. one called the ones that look like the one I posted 'the old timey israel melons" .. they look like large muskmelons sort of... ive seen some with green stripes also but similar flesh. Im not sure if they appear that way when immature or if there are different ones...

One other that was pretty good I found in the store is called Santa Claus Melon...They are odd looking melons, named because they can store until Christmas. They weren't as amazing as the others i mentioned but surprisingly good so I kept seeds.. also unsure if I want to screw with too many melons but ill probably try these ones myself

 

[LaFigGwr18]

I will try to get some seeds. Will try to grow in spring.

 

[snarfing]

I found some important information in the rabbit hole!

Apparently Toxic Squash Syndrome(TSS) is a thing... Occasionally squash hybrids will overproduce a chemical known a cucubitacins which is meant to serve as the plants defense against insects... it maybe due to genetics or crossing with gourds or wild relatives of squash and it makes the fruit taste noticeably bitter @... spit it out, dont swallow, dont eat it

The original article i read said that an early version of the Delicata types went around and luckily someone maintained a good line because what went around made alot of people sick and made alot of people mad... reading about the symptoms makes it not seem like a fun thing at all!

And so if experimenting with your own crosses or if you grow gourds and non edible squash near the food bearing plants, be mindful about the seeds especially... some cases are of people who were aware and simply tasted the squash and it made them sick and discomforted all day...

Its probably rare but Reddit had several testimonies i found in just a fast google
... it is maybe unlikely with fruit grown in some places... One read described it as being caused from an Acorn squash ... so far the reports ive read seem to be common with C. Pepo varieties .. ill be reading up on it some more

My understanding of this is that if it is toxic it will have a bitter taste. And if it ever has a bitter taste spit it out https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/squash-cucurbita-spp-toxic-squash-toxic-zucchini

This backs that up "do not eat any unknown squash with a noticeably bitter taste"

 

[DallasFigShop]

The obvious traits in appearance of the fruit are none. They can look like an Acorn squash... or a Zucchini, and will appear fine...not that its very common but the relorts are not extremly uncommon...

those two especially can cross very easily and so especially if they are grown within 1000 feet or whatever the rule is, of any wild squash relative ... I think one of the gourds to look out for is called the bottle gourd

I was reading about a case where the bitterness wasnt that bad... but the symptoms were... I bring it up becuase I plan to mess around with these and hybridize... and eoth thr state pf the union the way it is, storage food is looking like it could be important, war and inflation meh

it actually happened with a huge lot of these that looked like Delicata squash , which can be especially good... ill see of i can find the article again ...when I look through reddit threads regarding natural hybrids of these I see alot of warnings for TSS happening regularly

the Pepos seem to cross the easiest... but everything else seems to cross as well.. there are several 'Landrace' varieties meaning they are like a breed with lots and lots of genetic variables..

alot of places online will mention that the other two species, Moschata and Maxima , that lean towards winter fruit and will usually store longer, (which includes larger sized pumpkins) , will nkt cross as easily

but then it seems obvious that hybrids happened across species ... Some Pepos even treated like winter squash ... ....
its fairly obvious that each of the species lines contain examples that relate to the others ... I was just looking into Argonaut Butternut - enormous sized hybrid Butternuts, 25-30 lbs. They are listed as a Maxima while most Butternuts are Moschatas...

The crossing over to pepo maybe alot more rare and yet this newer line of Squashes are similar to winter Squashes... I saw where an Acorn relative known as 'Sweet Potato Squash' was able to store for around 1 year! And yet its a Pepo... closely related and easily crossed with yellow crooked neck or zucchini...not the same as 'Mashed Potato Squash' which I have eaten.. and they were mind blowingly good imo

But my concern is keeping these from getting all mixed up if I grow them and so I will probably begin a hand pollination habit for maintaining seed lines... it seems easy enough ... most that grow them though are likely to just grow, eat and save the open pollinated seeds like I was maybe going to do!

And so i think its good to have the warning on here.. I can see myself eating my own yellow straight neck Squash mixed with Bennington green tint... that somehow got hit with Delicata pollen and formed into something that looks like a novelty squash.... like maybe the first yellow Zucchini was for Carol Deppe

and then me eating it proudly, chewing a first bite, and toughing through some bitterness even lol -

now I know better

My understanding of this is that if it is toxic it will have a bitter taste. And if it ever has a bitter taste spit it out https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/squash-cucurbita-spp-toxic-squash-toxic-zucchini

This backs that up "do not eat any unknown squash with a noticeably bitter taste"

 

[DallasFigShop]

Here is the writeup I found. Zeppelin appear like the store Delicata I found along with Candystick.. but the flesh is not orange in the store version.. the larger ones I got from a different grocer are some other strain I think, maybe even plain or original Delicata

Delicata Zeppelin - Open Source Seed Initiative https://share.google/dbM984uxmIO4hokOs
“Have any other fresh market growers had a dreaded case of “bitter poison Delicatas?” GTF’s padrone, John Eveland, had more than one market customer approach him in autumn of 2000 with terrifying accounts of throat clenching bitterness from a single bite of his perfect Delicata squash. The victims were so emphatic, the threat of legal action so palpable, that John began calling every Delicata source in the country to find out exactly where his seed came from, and to make sure he didn’t plant seed from the same lot again. Turns out, every dealer in the USA had seed from the same field in Colorado, and this huge lot was very slightly contaminated by the bitterness gene found in C. pepo gourds. Perhaps one bitter squash in several thousand…What to do? John had kept his own Delicata seed from 1988 thru 1994 (when he went over to buying commercial seed). We went into the freezer to find his old selection, and used this for stock seed in 2001. We found the fruits longer and more uniform, finer textured, sweeter, and significantly longer keeping than other strains. Other local farmers report the same. We’ve never had a report of a bitter squash from this line. Not one. We have concentrated on making this the best long-keeping Delicata you can find. While no pepo-type squash will ever keep like a Hubbard or other maxima-type, we believe that ‘Zeppelin’ is the only Delicata you will still be eating in mid-January. Buttery-cream colored with longitudinal green stripes, fruits weigh 1 to 2 lbs, up to 6 good fruits per plant. Skin is tender enough to eat, the flesh is thick, a rich orange color, with a higher average brix than other available strains. As we say every time we eat it, this is good Delicata. Rock ’n’ Roll Delicata, in fact.”

Someone who grows several Delicatas recommended Honeyboat for consistency but it could be the climate or zone factor too, or other factors. The store Candysticks are really sweet. The light cream colored Delicata are mild in comparison, but better for some recipes I think and decent for eating like lightly sweetened mash potatoes

 

[Lisa]

I have a really good growing tip for Asian cucumbers. Grow them up a wire fence or cattle pen fencing. I especially like a curved cattle pen trellis, which I did and then you walk underneath and just harvest all these long cucumbers that hang down through to the inside of the trellis!

Since the fruit grows hanging straight down, you will essentially get perfect cucumbers, and they are not affected by any issues of where they touch the soil.

I’m trying to figure out how I can do that in my yard. I think I have the perfect spot! On another note it will probably end up being a small tunnel. I need to figure out where I am going to plant the 50 plus fig trees I have rooting in the laundry room!

 

[BucksCountyFigs]

I’m trying to figure out how I can do that in my yard. I think I have the perfect spot! On another note it will probably end up being a small tunnel. I need to figure out where I am going to plant the 50 plus fig trees I have rooting in the laundry room!

Me, too, but I live in PA and our winters are cold, so my baby trees won’t go in ground into their 2nd/3rd year, so I’m not holding their spaces open and plan to plant other full sun plants there until then.

 

[DallasFigShop]

Regarding Cucumbers. I went crazy about some of the garden Trellises on Temu. Im wondering if anyone has tried those??? or has a source... seems like maybe the route to go before I just buy wire and make one

I was looking on Temu they show some nice looking ones with decent reviews , mixed in with cheaper looking ones but the site is crazy ... it keeps making me spin a wheel and offering discounts and offers to buy things for .01 but then it holds me hostage and keeps trying to get me to buy one more thing, and then another and another... when i first shopped i got a few grafting knives for .01 - $3 dollar range.. I received them and they are good quality , sharp and durable, they work well too... I see the same ones on ebay upsetlling for a few $ more

But this time I got frustrated and canceled the whole deal... and then it sends me a few hundred worth of coupons so it appears I can get a few galvanized raised beds and some cucumber trellises made of metal for just over $100...lol so maybe worth logging in to window shop and just reject their deals for a while until they hook you back in .. their Ai stuff has advanced, just a warning ...

But anyhow before spring arrives I hope someone has a review .. one of the trellises is a walk under made of metal for under $50.. it looks to be of decent quality

And how relieved I am that cucumbers do not cross with Squashes

 

[Figgerlickinggood]

@DallasFigShop your post really got me excited for spring to get here to start the growing season. Today I was at Martin's supermarket and came across this Asian Radish. Never seen one before so I took a picture of it to post. Have you ever seen this before?