Clair Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 I have just weight the entire crop of butternut squash (doubeurre in French, but still much unknown in this here region) and the total weight comes to 19.250kg (42.44 lb)![IMG]http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q296/clair46/DSCI0002-1-1.jpg[/IMG]The heaviest weighs in at 1.750kg and the smallest is still over 600g.A couple of them have suffered a touch of frost, but I'll roast them today and use them for curries and soup.Very happy with my first attempt and a good crop from three plants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 It looks like a gathering of the Butternuts, or a protest, or are they Triffid eggs. Be careful, they might attack you in your sleep!!Wish I had your dedication to growing stuff, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted October 30, 2011 Author Share Posted October 30, 2011 [quote user="woolybanana"]It looks like a gathering of the Butternuts, or a protest, or are they Triffid eggs. Be careful, they might attack you in your sleep!!Wish I had your dedication to growing stuff, though.[/quote]You're right, they're a veggie equivalent of the "Occupy Whatever" silent protest.They grow at an alarming rate and spread like a weed... [:D]I assure you I did nothing after planting them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 I have not been so lucky with squash this year.I have 2 which are a lot smaller than yours.Courgettes have been ok though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted October 30, 2011 Author Share Posted October 30, 2011 What a shame, Joe.I feel I have been quite lucky for my first year. Everything I have tried has given something back: beetroot, celery-root, onions, lettuce, toms, basil, peppers and right now, I have 5 massive multi-coloured chard plants taking over the plots!I still have 6 super-giant courgettes resting in the cellar. Thankfully they do not have that hard, brittle skin some others have, and they are pretty quick to peel and use at short notice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5-element Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 How fabulous, Clair. I am insanely envious.[kiss] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 It's not fair.[:'(]Is there anything you don't do well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Animal Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 [quote user="Joe"]I have 2 which are a lot smaller than yours.Courgettes have been ok though.[/quote] [blink] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted October 30, 2011 Author Share Posted October 30, 2011 [quote user="NormanH"]It's not fair.[:'(]Is there anything you don't do well? [/quote]I wish...Embarrassingly, yes... Lots of things, Norman, lots of things![:'(]But honestly, this garden thing, I can't take any credit for it. It worked despite my lack of effort... Really, it did! [:$] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardengirl Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 What a great crop! You've done really well, and must have very good soil. Well done! [:)]My courgettes were very poor this year; they are normally very productive, so very disappointing. Tomatoes weren't very good either, and they were the same as I normally grow, usual crop rotation etc too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted October 30, 2011 Author Share Posted October 30, 2011 [quote user="5-element"]How fabulous, Clair. I am insanely envious.[kiss][/quote][quote user="gardengirl "]What a great crop! You've done really well, and must have very good soil. Well done! [:)][/quote]Thank you both [:)]Next year's crop of butternut Squash will be vertical! I'm thinking about a frame made from these steel squares used for reinforced concrete... Sturdy enough to take the weight of the squash and resist the strong gusts of autumnal wind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheminot Posted November 1, 2011 Share Posted November 1, 2011 I planted 3 plants last year which produced only one butternut, so this year I planted 6 plants and have ended up with over 80! I think my neighbours will soon be fed up with me trying to get rid of them but it is a shame to waste them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted November 1, 2011 Author Share Posted November 1, 2011 80!!! [:-))] And I thought I'd done well! [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5-element Posted November 1, 2011 Share Posted November 1, 2011 What a shame that Cognac is so far away...[:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardener Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 If you are struggling for ideashttp://www.allaboutyou.com/food/recipefinder/butternut-squash-spinach-lasagne-recipe-8807 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted November 7, 2011 Author Share Posted November 7, 2011 I have already cooked 3 of mine! I might try that recipe with chard instead of spinach, as I also have a lot of that... I saw the butternut squashes at 2€ each at the greengrocer's on Saturday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Have you tried dry roasting/toasting the seeds Clair?I tried it for the first time yesterday, as an experiment, and I love 'em. Kind of sweet and nutty. [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted November 7, 2011 Author Share Posted November 7, 2011 Can't say I have...yet!I'll do that and place them strategically within Mr Clair's reach, for the good of his prostate! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catalpa Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Roasted butternut squash soupPeel and slice or cube a butternut squash (or two). Drizzle it with olive oil along with 2 or 3 medium to large onions, sliced into thick rings and 2 or 3 (or more!) peeled cloves of garlic. Roast at about 160 - 170 (fan). Don't let the garlic burn.When cooked (soft when pierced with a knife) blitz everything in a blender until very smooth - you'll need to add water or a good stock to stop it going gluey and unless you have an industrial-sized blender, you'll need to do it in 2 or 3 lots.Finally, blitz half a jar of Lidl roasted red peppers (or roast and peel some of your own) plus a dollop of harissa paste (to taste and dependent on the strength of the paste). Simmer very gently for 20 minutes taking care that it doesn't catch on the bottom of the pan. Taste and season. Serve with some finely chopped red pepper and / or chorizo and / or toasted pine nuts sprinkled in the middle of the bowl on top of a swirl of crème fraîche.This is the rustic version; to make it velvety, pass it through a chinois before adding the crème fraîche and the trimmings. Tastes even better on day 2. I've never had it last till day 3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mik Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 That sounds an excellent recipe. I was running out of ideas after also having a bumper crop. All these came from one, self seeded plant![IMG]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/mikornisey/butternutsquash.jpg[/IMG] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Animal Posted November 24, 2011 Share Posted November 24, 2011 Mik, apart from the bumper crop, what fantastic scenery you have there. Looks though as if you all have a little competition (legumes XL) [:D] http://www.m6.fr/emission-100_mag/news-100_mag/460022-potiron_oignon_tomate_decouvrez_les_en_version_geante.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keni Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 Just making Butternut Nut Butter Squash soup as I type. (River Cottage recipe). We too had a great year for squashes, and this was our first year after clearing the land. There are still some red peppers and chillies in the polytunnel, and the spinach and turnips are still out there.Now the bees are hunkering down for the winter, we are cutting and coppicing the wood from the trees, so it's a learning experience all around!I have also learned to save the seeds every time I cook, to use next year. xHope we have a good crop like that one next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evianers Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 We asked for some butternut seeds from our children last Christmas.There were 8 in the packet, which we dutifully planted. However after emptying the contents of our compost-bin onto the veggie patch, we found it was indeed similar to The Day of the Triffids in that we had butternut plants coming up all over the patch and on to the lawn. We're still eating then now having harvested them in October, and last night had butternut soup with 6 friends. Delicious! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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