Curiosity. Who plants squash?

[Smiles Jr.]

Many years ago we would plant several different types of squash and the harvest was usually bountiful. Each year we would load tons of the stuff in the car and haul it off to friends and family. We would put a table out along the road with piles of squash and a sign "FREE". DW fixed lots of squash meals and put it into every dish possible. I think she even put it in bread and cakes as well as some kind of fermented drink. Any farm-type animals we happened to have at the time got their fill of it, too. My compost pile looked like a squash pile every year.

As the years clicked by I found myself planting a little less squash each spring. Soon the squash didn't even have 2 sq. ft. in the garden and now we don't plant it at all. I think it all comes down to the fact that we don't even like the stuff. Spaghetti Squash hung on for a few years but we don't bother with it any more either.

Do you guys actually like squash?

To me, it's the kind of vegetable that makes us feel like we're some kind of miracle farmer. It grows easily, it produces lots of stuff, and it makes us feel good about our efforts.

 

[catjac1975]

I love squash. All kinds of squash, in soups, breads cakes, stir fry.......It you have a desire to try it again try Rumbo.

 

[The Mama Chicken]

We like it. I wish we'd had more before the squash bugs got them.

 

[ninnymary]

Smiles, I love zuchini but I can't seem to grow them. My problem is overwatering. I thought planting in containers would help but nope. They look even worse. Next year, I'll plant them back in the ground and try again.

Mary

 

[lesa]

I don't bother with any of the summer squash. I spent so much time worrying about vine borers, squash bugs, cucumber beetles, etc. In the end I came to the same realization- I really don't like the stuff! If I get the urge for it once or twice a year- they are easy to come by at farmers market or even supermarket. What I have devoted an entire garden to, are the butternut squash. They are a winter squash and they store beautifully in the basement. We ate our last one in April. I use them to make soup, and just baked in the oven they are wonderful. Very fun for the holidays. And the very best part- they don't have a hollow stem, so the vine borers leave them alone!!

 

[Carol Dee]

Every year I try to get DH to plant LESS. Because if it does well I can not use it all or even give the stuff away. You can only eat so much and bake so much bread. Zucchini is blah. Winter squash at least have taste and texture. Already the vine borer and drought are doing a number on the vines. I would not mind if they would wait until I had my fill and we have only just begun to harvest.

 

[ninnymary]

Lesa, I love butternut squash soup also. Is there a bush or compact one that I could try?

Mary

 

[lesa]

The one I grow is a bush, but boy it sprawls all over the place. Maybe you could get it to climb a trellis, but you would have to support the squash, they are heavy. I think it would be a tough one on the space in your garden...

 

[so lucky]

I like butternut squash, but no one else that I feed likes it, so........We only like zucchini floured, fried and served with cheese sauce. I planted one hill of zucchini this year, and it hasn't produced anything yet. I don't think I will be too disappointed if it doesn't bear anything.

 

[NwMtGardener]

Wow, i love squash! I do only plant one plant per kind, and my zucchini doesnt look so good, so i just popped another seed in the ground. Hopefully that will do better. I also have one acorn, one blue hubbard (i hope) and um one other onei cant remember right now. Grilled zuccs are just my favorite way to eat them, and i love the winter squashes any way - roasted, pureed into creamy soups, stuffed w/ sausage and baked..cant wait!