Uchiki kuri harvest

[greenscrump]

Hi all,
I have some beautiful fruit on my plants - when should I harvest please ??

as always your input is very much appreciated  :)

[greenscrump]

[Jeannine]

You could use now if you wish to use straight away, but if you want to store them, leave as long as possible on the plant even if it is withered,  the skin has to cure,it will get hard so that a finger nail will not leave an indentation. If the plant gets mildew, leave as long as possible. For storing, keep in a cool place that will not freeze and wipe down with a mild solution of bleach in water to kill off any mildew spores. They will store several months if mature. If immature use am corgettes. XX Jeannine

[greenscrump]

thanks Jeannine, I'll use some and store some  ;D

[umshamrock]

jeannine - when the fruits are totally cured and very hard i have a real problem getting into them (esp. with big pumpkins). any suggestions as you are the squash expert?
Many thanks,

[Jeannine]

Hi, most squash I can get into with a good heavy knife but when they get very big and hard I think it is too easy for the knife to slip so I use an old cleaver. I sit the pumpkin or squash on a damp towel so it stays put,place the cleaver where I want it to split and whack the top of the cleaver with a hammer,once you have split it you can take out the seeds and cut it easier from the inside out. If I want the flesh for pumpkin pie etc I just bake the halves and remove the flesh after.

Please don't use a good cleaver with a hammer as you will wreck the top edge,I have an old one for this kind of job

If they are small, bake them whole , the skin will come off easily after.

The longer they are stored the ahrdert they become.

[Robert_Brenchley]

If you don't want to ruin your cleaver, use a mallet or a soft-faced hammer.

[umshamrock]

great idea about breaking into pumpkins - my former method involved wrapping in a carrier bag and hitting with a hammer (surprisingly dangerous as it rolls around) or wrapping up and dropping out our second story window to crash to the slate patio. I knew there must be a better method...

thanks!