Dreaming of Spring Gardening in the middle of a Wisconsin winter

[lazy gardener]

Funny how we all have different taste preferences. I've NEVER tasted a Butternut squash that was worth eating, IME. But, Butter Cup... yummy. I had a variety that grew to 22#, green, which crossed with an other favorite variety: Red Kuri, to produce a dark orange 22# buttercup. Unfortunately, the F2 generation reverted to a Red Kuri type of fruit. All time favorite, which I didn't grow this year, but it was so good I saved some seed, hoping it will breed true was: Giant Blue Hubbard. Never in my life have I eaten such a sweet squash! I've grown very good Spaghetti squash. Sweet, nutty flavor, tender. Excellent with spaghetti sauce. Would be great with chili also! I think that often, the flavor is completely tied up in the nutrient it was grown in, whether the squash was mature when harvested, and allowed to cure for the correct length of time to allow the sugars to develop.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I might look into Blue Hubbard. Thanks.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Is there a recommended time to store butternut or other hard skinned squash?
I really like the idea of being more self sufficient and even though they never cost much at the store would like to grow them.

The one I cooked yesterday was super delicious. It was sweet but not overpowering. It could have gone with brown sugar as my grandmother made hers or with butter, salt and pepper just as easily.

Wanting some variety in the garden I should be able to fit 3 or 4 varieties of squash with up to 3 plants of each.

How are patty pan squash prepared? I assume being a summer squash they would not keep well.

Green beans on poles or the trellis? I would not want them to fall over in a wind. So much to learn and try... I grew bush beans and they did well but space is at a premium so going up seems logical.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Summer squash doesn't store well, I think it needs to be froze. Winter squash, you leave it in the garden until the last possible minute, well not totally, but I pick mine before a hard freeze, it goes in my garden cart, I move in and out of my shed to cure in the sun but not let it get froze, it can be moved into a cool basement after you can't press a fingernail through the skin, I don't usually eat it for another few weeks as they continue to cure and sweeten. I have about 20 butternut in my basement, I have to get busy eating them, they will start to break down towards May or June if they don't get eaten.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I haven't tried summer squash. I haven't tried pole beans, I like bush beans, this year I want to grow them in plastic horse troughs. But who knows, I do have places I could grow some pole beans, right next to my climbing roses.

 

[21hens-incharge]

The summer squash varieties I have grown need to be used within a week or two tops as they do not harden up. Not the most flavorful or firm when cooked but are prolific producers.
I usually end up using them in lasagna sauce or making breads/cakes with them.
Tempura fried zucchini is good. I am certain there are thousands of ways to use them I have not done or heard of.

 

[lazy gardener]

My favorite pole bean support is an old swing set.

 

[21hens-incharge]

So just straight up then. OK no need to make an elaborate trellis set up. WHEW that will be much easier. We do not eat a lot of beans so I wont need a ton of space for them.

I have a TON of gardening magazines collected over the last few years. LOTS of great ideas in there but some not so practical.

Strawberries were raided by starlings and mice last year so am going to try and make a pest proof raised bed for them this time. I have wire that is small mesh. I am planning to put it under the raised box and a wire box over top that I can open but the mice cannot.

I know I will have to replace the wire bottom every couple years but that is ok.

I have seen the purple podded beans in catalogs. Are the worth trying or are they similar in taste to standard Kentucky Wonder?

 

[lazy gardener]

My absolutely favorite is Fortex. They grow 10" or longer and are still very tender, with small seeds. On my swing set, I put a wire around the front 2 legs, about 6" from the ground and parallel to the ground, and a similar wire around the back 2 legs. I can then tie twine to the front wire, go up through the S hook that would hold the swing chain, and back down to the back wire. I put a string about every 6". It holds the beans very nicely, and will grow an incredible amount of beans when planted on front and back. I like to use jute or sisal twine, so it will decompose in the compost.

 

[21hens-incharge]

NICE tip about jute or sisal. That would save having to sort the string out.
I can make a structure similar to a swing set to grow on easily enough.

I looked the beans up and they are impressive in size. I sometimes question the descriptions on seed sites they ALL sound positive. It did not say how tall but did say they need sturdy stakes to grow so must be large plants.
Burpee has them and I was going to place an order there anyway. I like interesting plants so why not.

Hard to get the family to try new or different veggies so I am trying to make it interesting without being disturbing to them. Purple beans would cross the weird line for them lol.