Favorite squash variety

13 years ago

I just came from our local pumpkin farm, where they have dozens upon dozens of squash varieties to choose from. Every year we buy an assortment, and stock up on our favorites.

The Sweet Dumpling squash is always good, so I buy them whenever they're available. Last year we tried a Sibley, which I really liked, but this year they didn't have them.

New varieties we're trying this year:
-Blue Magic
-Ambercup
-Sweetmeat
-Grey Ghost

This lead me to wonder what other varieties other food lovers might recommend. Do you have a favorite squash?

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Comments (11)

ci_lantro
13 years ago
Kabocha is my hands down favorite. I tried growing the sweet dumpling squash one year and wasn't impressed. Wasn't sweet at all. Maybe it was the variety or the season--I should try growing it again because I know a lot of people who love it.

Anyway, Kabocha grows good for me and it's always yummy.
twoyur
13 years ago
Hubbard

Though I wish they weren't so large
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lots of of info out ther and it still is not clear to me what you really want. Irespective of variety which most folks have a favorite and can genrate hours of discussion, winter squash can be be categorized into groups. Butternut types are the most popular and most versatile. They have resistance to SVB which is of paramount importance in some areas. Pumpkins are most popular for decorations, but some types are widely used for pies. ( not Libby's pumpkin pie filling is made from a butternut type not a pumpkin) Acorns are popular as a personal size baking squash, Delicata types are less popular but used for the same purpose. Hubbard types come in all sizes and noted for thier keeping qualities and flavor. Most susceptible to SVB. Finally the ancient cushaws, good pie pumpkin, but it is a personal taste. One of my favorites but generally low in popularity. In case you you are asking about kabocha and buttercups, they are Hubbard types as is the acorn size Gold Nugget.
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dcarch7 d c f l a s h 7 @ y a h o o . c o m
13 years ago
Yes, Kabocha,

and Delicata also.

Try them, if you have not had them before.

dcarch
agmss15
13 years ago
I grew squash semi-successfully this year for my mother and sister as well as myself - 12 hills and 40+ squash. They started flowering and fruiting late this rainy rainy year.

Delicatas which look like elongated sweet dumplings.

Red kuris, sunshines and nutty delica which all seem to be in the kabocha/buttercup category - dry sweet and store well.

Finally I grew a bush butternut and have 3 or 4 semi-ripe squashes.

I am happy with all the varieties except the last one. I wanted small or medium sized sweet squash. My sister and family fell in love with delicata lasr year. My mom is a big fan of the kuri.
User
13 years ago
I like the orange squashes - butternut, acorn and Dickenson (Libby's pumpkin squash)

Slice them in half, bake them, and top with butter and brown sugar.
carol_in_california
13 years ago
Kabocha here, too.
They grow really well here.
I love using the puree for smoothies and pies, quick breads and cookies.
mabeldingeldine_gw
13 years ago
I really like Confection from Johnny's Selected Seeds. It is their own hybrid Kabocha type. Food writer Leslie Land turned me on to it. I also really like Futsu Black, a Japanese moschata type. It grew really well for me in Maine this past summer. It is a good keeper. The Futsu Black tends to be a drier squash than the kabocha types.

Here is a link that might be useful: my blog post about Futsu Black
annie1992
13 years ago
I've been saving more and more of my own seeds, so I lean toward the open pollinated varieties.

My favorite is still Waltham Butternut, no matter whether I'm eating hybrids or OP varieties. I just like it. I also like Hubbard but the squashes cross pollinate so readily that I have resorted to choosing one variety per year to grow. It's nearly always Butternut (which also makes great dinner rolls and passable pies).

Annie
sleevendog (5a NY 6aNYC NL CA)
13 years ago
I've just started growing them again and have a variety but no favorite yet. I like them all. Roasting, but no butter or brown sugar....roast face down, long and slow. I want to try them on their own discovering their own flavor. Next year i will pay more attention for my climate and try varieties suggested from here and the garden forum postings.
I have a pile in the garage. Looking forward to picking one randomly, roasting, and making up a dish or a variety of dishes.
KatieC
13 years ago
I have the best luck growing Sunshine kabocha and an Italian heirloom, Marina di Chioggia. Short season and both are tasty. I keep trying bush delicata, Sweet Dumpling and butternut, but I'm better off stopping at the upick for those. I grab Carnivals whenever I see them...they seem a bit less stringy than the parent Sweet Dumpling. Pretty, too.
craftyrn
13 years ago
The last year I had any size to my garden I tried Lakota--an old, old variety-- loved it-- nice and dry, nutty yet a bit sweet. Now I buy from a local farm stand-- buttercup & amber cup are my favorite but it's hard to find them small enough for just the two of us so I use a lot of sweet dumpling & the stand I buy from uses Waltham butternut which is a great keeper . I buy acorn for my daughter but don't really care for it myself.

Diane

Favorite squash variety

Comments (11)

ci_lantro

twoyur

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