I love this time of year, the spring sunshine, signs of life springing up everywhere and our especially warm spring this year speeding all these activities by leaps and bounds.
Some things are faster and more eager than others... namely squash seeds. Every year they surprise me at how fast they germinate and they never fail to amaze year after year. Every child should try germinating squash seeds! It awakens the child in me every year so it must be extremely exciting through a child's eyes.
This year I've planted 4 varieties and I'm not cautious on the quantities of seeds I am germinating either. I am a Master Gardener for Garden Organic http://mastergardeners.org.uk/about/master-gardeners/ and as I support and advise 4 community food growing gardens, if I germinate too many for my garden, these community garden groups will be more than happy to take them and give them a home!
Back to the squash seedlings... the seedlings in the picture above germinated in just 3 days, now I think that's really impressive!!! These guys really have a thirst for life. If you have kids or want to awake the kid in you, I highly recommend giving the squash chaps a go!
The seedlings in the picture above are "Pattison Blanc" Patty Pan Squash a French heirloom variety available from Real Seeds, here's the link http://www.realseeds.co.uk/courgettes.html
I am also germinating Heritage Seed Library Zapalliotode Toscana Squash which have dark green to purple fruits with orange pulp http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/hsl/variety.php?IdNum=688
Real Seeds "Striato d'Napoli" Courgettes which grows courgettes with an attractive green stripe http://www.realseeds.co.uk/courgettes.html
Gem Squash for my South African neighbours from Tozer Seeds and last but certainly not least Real Seeds "Crookneck" Summer Squash http://www.realseeds.co.uk/courgettes.html
I grew the Crookneck variety last year and just had to do it again - the bright yellow fruit look amazing on the plant:
and taste amazing in your cooking.
The other varieties I listed above I am trying for the first time this year. Watch this space - progress reports on these will be sure to follow in the coming months.
Lovely energetic post Claire!
ReplyDeleteI think squashes are possible my favourite thing to grow for so many reasons.
And you're definitely right when you say these guys have a thirst for life. They're voracious. One day I'd love to try and trail them up a wall, I bet they'd look stunning.
I grew Pattison Blanc a couple of years ago, they're unique shape is brilliant. Something like that, growing up a nice old wall would look beautiful.