Squash-Turk's Turban

This is great, I love them , Pam I have Gourds growing everywhere in my garden this year , I couldn't bare to not use any of the seedlings , every tree and any upright article has one growing up it , I know I had some Turk's Turban but haven't seen any yet and they are my favorite ones .....

This is the first year I have grown these. When do I harvest them? So pleased I can ask someone!

I usually harvest them later about October , I have lots of ones that look like lemons some are striped green , they look lovely in baskets as decoration in the kitchen / porch . If you want to make sure they keep for a long time it's worth varnishing them it brings out the colour as well :-)

Thanks Amy :))

Looks great....Pam...
I bought a packet of seeds and then realised they were ornamental, haven't done anything this year, but will grow them, and the edible ones next year...:o)))

Taken your tip on board Amy about the varnishing, thanks

Thanks Crissue, I have some others called Festival too, was wondering if they were eatable?

I wouldn't know sorry Pam, I bought my seeds in France, just had another look, they're mainly ornamental.....very pretty, would like to have a try...but prefer the edible ones....:o))

I've been looking in my book and apparently there are two kinds of Squash
1. A summer squash with soft skins and pale ,soft flesh - which should be boiled or fried like courgettes
2. A winter squash not really eatable as our season is to short and often to cool to ensure perfection .
I'm not sure that this is much help unless you are told on the packet which is which ...

My seed packet says , ideal fo autumn decoration .
When fruits have reached the required size ,remove from plant and store in a dry,airy place until fully dried ..
I think mine must be winter hard ones ...because they are smaller and hard .

I've just remembered Pam ... when I grew some Turk's Turbins last year I put them in a local show ,they won a prize and afterwards a lady came up to me and said that if I didn't want them could she have them for making chutney ~ so you must be able to eat them !

Yes Amy I think you can eat the Turks Turbans, I looked it up on the 'net. Apparently you can roast them and make a soup. Well done for winning a prize with yours tho. that must have been quite exciting!
I think mine must be summer squashes, so I'll give the cooking a go!

Crissue, I like to eat my produce too!

I've just looked on my packet and it says...;Annual climbing or ground covering...Arbours or indoor decoration..Ornamental fruit for Autumn and Winter...so no eating these...I know they grow them here for eating Autumn and Winter...big Pumpkins, same family...I'll have to check for when to sow....
Well they probably take the same amount of time to grow, so might as well eat them, I love anything like that as a veg in Winter...

I think I have a small one coming Pam probably to late to grow to any size !

Brilliant. I was reading up on growing these and found out it can be a good idea to put a plank of wood under the squash so it is kept off the earth as it grows. I didn't have that so I placed an up-turned shallow drip tray under it, seems to be doing the job!! Nearly ready to eat. I shall be trying out a recipe I found, not sure if my OH is too keen!

:))))

He sounds like my OH Pam anything that is different and he makes ' that ' face you know the one I mean .Lol... I have done that laying something under a Squash it does help .. :o)

Had this for lunch today. Just cut into pieces with skin on and roasted with olive oil, salt and black pepper. It was very good, could be served as an alternative to potatoes too. Also a few chilli flakes would go well, but I had run out! Will definately grow again. :))