[bluelou]

Anyone grown squash in containers before? If yes what is a good squash to grow?

[paintedlady]

I have grown a pumpkin in a growbag but they do need LOTS of watering (at the time I lived in a house with a small concreted back yard.  I wouldn't do it now ....), but I don't think I'd like to try & grow one out of a container unless it was quite a big pot and maybe shallow, and the squash would probably have to be a bush variety rather than trailing variety.  I don't know any bush variety winter squash, only summer squashes eg courgette/marrows

[compostqueen]

I've grown them in bins, bags and builders rubble sacks. Make sure the container is large and then you won't be a slave to watering.   A courgette is fine in a tub or plastic sack as well. Don't forget the drainage holes. 

Have you in mind a particular dish to make with your squash as that could determine the variety chosen    Do you want the squash for pies, mash, curry, rice dishes etc 

[mumofstig]

It might be better to grow one of the bushy type ones rather than the long trailing ones...
eg Harrier butternut is quite compact.....

[bluelou]

I did not have any recipes in mind, i just love squashes. I dont have the space to have a large container, so maybe i will have to keep buying squashes.

[compostqueen]

are you growing on a balcony or have you a garden? They can be kept compact by training the stalk in a circle, bit like a Cumberland sausage    You mark the centre, eg where the squash is planted and then you keep training the growing stem and gently pegging it down as it grows. When you have some promising fruits you can limit their number to say 3 or 5 and then stop the plant by pinching out the growing tip. 

[bluelou]

are you growing on a balcony or have you a garden? They can be kept compact by training the stalk in a circle, bit like a Cumberland sausage    You mark the centre, eg where the squash is planted and then you keep training the growing stem and gently pegging it down as it grows. When you have some promising fruits you can limit their number to say 3 or 5 and then stop the plant by pinching out the growing tip. 

Great idea but what is a good type to use?

[compostqueen]

I'd go for Thelma Sanders, Crown Prince, Winter Festival, Harlequin, green striped cushaw, Sweet Mama (which is small and well behaved but goes soft when cooked so is good for squash mash) 

Crown Prince is brill and keeps its shape when cooked so is good in curry or rice dishes. Cushaws are for pies (making into a puree). Sweet Mama has a lovely sweet potato taste - well I think it does    The Harlequins and Festival squashes are gorgeous to behold and good to eat too

Thelma Sanders looks absolutely beautiful, it's heart shaped and deeply ribbed all the way round. It has white skin like marble. It's a heavy cropper too.

[mumofstig]

I also grow Thelma Sanders, but find it is quite adventurous, and tries to take over the garden.......but it is my favourite, so far............

I try a few new ones each year
It sounds as if I need to try Sweet mama ............mmmm where are the seed catalogues?

[compostqueen]

Sweet Mama is much more well behaved and I grew it in my bean teepee and it didn't take over at all. It's smallish, shiny green and a bit stripey    It does cook down so good for mash but I thought it was rather sweet potato flavoured.  I'd deffo grow it again 

[bluelou]

Which company did you get the Sweet Mama seeds from?

[compostqueen]

Mammoth Onion co or Seeds by Size, both available off the internet 

[bluelou]

Thanks, will get ordering today. I did order on Sunday some pumkin seeds that was advertised in the Grow your own magazine. They are called "Windsor F1". Has any one tried them?

[mumofstig]

Mammoth Onion co or Seeds by Size, both available off the internet 

unfortunately these will have to wait til next year...mammoth have a minimum order value of £5 and it is nearly as much to order 1 pkt from seeds by size when you include p&p 

never mind I probably have sown too many already....but I have noted them in my little book

[8doubles]

Sweet Mama is much more well behaved and I grew it in my bean teepee and it didn't take over at all. It's smallish, shiny green and a bit stripey    It does cook down so good for mash but I thought it was rather sweet potato flavoured.  I'd deffo grow it again 

My Sweet Mama`s grew to 300mm diameter , and i would say chestnutty rather than sweet potato flavour.

It is a very good squash and i will be growing more this year and less butternuts.