Nothing and some rather big somethings
As we had sun at the weekend the Digger went off to the big allotment to plant the Japanese onions ‘Radar’. These are onions which are planted in September or October to overwinter. They then give an early crop the following year from late May/June onwards depending on the variety. They don’t store quite as well as maincrop onions but that’s fine as they get used up pretty quickly while we wait until the maincrop onions planted in February/March are ready from July onwards.
I asked the Digger to take a picture of his efforts. He did so but grumbled that it was a picture of “Nothing”. I replied firmly that this was a picture of onions, even if you can’t see them.
Japanese onions planted in the Big allotment
Given that the weather is getting much colder we decided to harvest the Pumpkins and Winter squash.
Pumpkins and Winter squash
Mmmmm. These are somewhat bigger than I was expecting. We are going to eat them not turn them into Halloween novelties so I’ll have to start searching out recipes. I’ve only grown small varieties before. The green Winter squash definitely doesn’t look like ‘Marina Di Chioggia’, the skin isn’t knobbly enough. I wonder if they are rogue seeds of some ‘Turks Turban’ variety. The deep orange ones are ‘Rouge Vif D’Etampes’. I’ve put them in front of the garage window in the hope that any sun will encourage their skins to harden off.
Orange Pumpkin 'Rouge Vif D'Etampes' and green Winter Squash
11 comments
Hello, i’ve just descovered your site, and i’ve put it on my favourates list hope thats ok…Well the green winter squash kinda reminds me of one of those blue prince squash-things and yes a turks turban so a cross perhaps? Both varietys i would love to grow next year or the year after. I LOVE squash and i’ve got lots picked out to grow next year. I’m sure i’ll squeze some more in though. :) love to see what everyone else has grown.
I have three of those wonderful Rouge vif d’etamps ripening at the moment. They go a darker colour almost day by day. Spectacular!
Those pumpkins look great, I will have to make sure I plant something exotic like that next year.
The pumpkins are such decorative Vegetables. Yummy pumpkin soup; roasted pumpkins; pumkin pies, pumpkin risotto; well you can look forward to a winter of great cooking!
Great pumpkins. I fully understand the photos of ‘nothing’ – we’ve got reams of photos of the allotment as it gradually gets dug. There’s something satisfying about the neat ground.
I’ve been taking pictures of ‘nothing’ all year. It’s an allotmenteer speciality, I find ;)
Great pumpkins – I’ve only managed teeny tiny ones this year :(
Several people have complained about the smoothness of their supposedly ‘knobbly’ squashes this year – I can’t help wondering if you all ordered from the same seed company and there was some kind of batch failure?
Meantime, watch our blog for pictures of onions … well, onionseed stuck to strips of newspaper!
Jopan – Much appreciated. I think the green Squash will remain a mystery.
Matron – You’re right they are turning a darker red. I feel like polishing them!
Earthwoman – They are so easy to grow too.
Titania – Yes I’ll be trying to find as many recipes as possible :-)
HappyMouffetard – Yes, freshly dug ground is very satisfying though boring photo wise.
VP – I think I’ll be going with smaller ones next year (lol)
allotment blogger – I agree. I think it was a rogue batch of seed. I’ll look forward to your onions.
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My “Marina di Chioggia” look just like yours.
Bought from some rare seed distributor on the web,
and grown at 6700 feet in the Colorado Rockies.
I was concerned that mine didn’t look quite right,
and thought it may have crossbred with the zuchini.
Synchro – Looks like there are a few of us with disappointing results! Obviously some cross pollinated seed has got into the distribution system.
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