Some Squash Questions

[Jesse]

I have bought some patty pan seeds and was wondering, as I've only ever seen them packaged in the supermarket, how they grow, are they like courgettes that grow on a bush or are they like butternut that grow on a vine?

I would really like to grow some Gem Squash (that's what I know them as but they may have another name in the UK). Has anyone ever grown them, are they easy to grow like other squash and where can I get some seeds from as I can't find them in the catalogues and garden centres that I visit.

[Jesse]

[Mrs Ava]

I have grown patty pans and love them, more than courgettes! The ones I have grown, 'sunburst' and a white one I bought in France grow bush like rather than trailing, take up little space and once they get going, fruit all summer long.  I tend to pick them when they are quite small as I love them drizzled in olive oil, roasted with some cherry toms, aubergine and garlic, then scattered with olives!  YUM!

Gem squash I haven't heard of...will investigate.

[Mrs Ava]

Found lots of references to Gem squash....a link to a site here

http://www.kenyonhall.co.uk/pumpkin.htm

Also on the Johnsons seed site found a reference to gems as Rolet.  Here is the link.

http://www.johnsons-seeds.com/details/0156.html

[Jesse]

Thanks EJ, I've also got the Sunburst patty pans, they are lovely to eat aren't they. I saw the links you posted below, but apart from the Johnsons seeds mixed collection I cannot find gem squash seeds sold on their own anywhere. I even thought about buying some from the supermarket to save the seed but they don't seem to sell them anymore and also they're picked small so I don't think the seeds would be mature enough to germinate. I'll keep searching.

[Doris_Pinks]

Do you mean little Gem Jess? I have grown them before, but I cannot for the life of me remember what the yield etc. was like! (note to self, must write things down!! :D)
Found this on future foods site

Cucurbita pepo
Little Gem SGem
A brilliantly productive and reliable squash â€" if you grow no other squash variety this summer, make sure that it’s this one. The plants ramble freely and will climb up a trellis or support. They produce plentiful small green fruits that grow a little larger than a tennis ball, making a perfect single portion. Fruits can be eaten young, as summer squash, or left on the vine to cure, after which they will store for months, eventually turning orange. Delicious simply baked, after cutting off the top and scooping out the seeds, filling with tomato stuffing or just with a thingy of butter. Eight vines will yield a wheelbarrow-full of fruits.


http://www.futurefoods.com/index.html
Looks an interesting site, may have to take a browse myself..no more seed buying DP, no more! Tis an obsession I tell ya!

Also found this link too!
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/yabbse/index.php?board=10;action=display;threadid=5695
Looks like sspauk grew them last year!

Hope this helps.DP   
Oh and EJ........DO NOT LOOK ON THAT SITE!!! :D  :D  :D  (and don't blame me if you buy stuff!!)

[Jesse]

That sounds like it DP, small round dark green squash a little bigger than a tennis ball, thanks for finding the link, will go and have a good look through now, but have to keep telling myself that I only want gem seeds, NOTHING ELSE!! The Gem Squash are lovely though, I boil them whole until soft and then slice in half with a thingy of butter and freshly ground pepper, simply scoop out, they are delicious and the kids even like them so that's an added bonus. I used to buy them in the supermarkets but they were ridiculously expensive and now looks like they don't even sell them any more.

[Merry Tiller]

Grew Gems for the first time this year, seeds were obtained from squashes bought in Tesco.
Fairly vigorous vines, each produced around 10-12 fruit, only 6 left now but they have been delicious

[Jesse]

MT I you have any seed saved from the ones you grew would you like to do a swap? I have a load of veg and flower seeds arriving later this month. Glad to hear that they grew well, I wasn't sure if they grow here because I only remember them from South Africa and they don't seem very popular here, a shame as they are so tasty.

[Merry Tiller]

I have some of last years saved seed left if you want to give it a try, let me know & I'll give you an email address where you can leave your details