I’m not sure why, but my first year here only vining plants produced. So I think I am being pushed toward a vining population.
Huh, maybe vines are better suited to your growing conditions than bushes, for some reason. Or it may simply be one of those times when correlation is not causation. Either way, it’s interesting!
I’m very interested in a hulless zeppelin delicata. My hulless pumpkins always have some seed coat because I can’t not grow delicata. I’ve been told that outcrossing effects the hullessness of the seeds even in that first year- does that seem right? Now I’m questioning if that makes sense ha.
I’m trying to think if there is a place I could plant a delicata/hulless bed that would be far enough away from the kousa and crookneck. I also have issues w/ hulless varieties ripening in time so the chance of them gaining some speed w/ the quicker ripening of delicata is ideal. We use the hulless pumpkins as halloween pumpkins whatever the coloring to put the otherwise useless fruits to use. I’ve grown styrian, godiva, something that starts w/ K, never a smashing hit but always worth doing again. I’ve grown very many pepos and honestly don’t think most are worth growing based on my requirements of eatability and decent storage length. Z. delicata being the exception. I love to cut the delicata in 1/4 inch thick rings w/ seeds intact and pan fry them so the seeds are crispy and delicous- hulless would be even better. I’ve found cooking the green delicata is delicious in all the stages too.
There are some bushing strains of delicata but I usually just plant them and let them go wild so I haven’t paid much attention.
I know you have already researched for hulless w/ dual purpose flesh but do you have standard pepo types that you enjoy? Another idea would be hulless+spaghetti.
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I just made a taste test of all my long storage pepos: I’ve thrown at the compost 80%, and out of the 20% remaining most were “good” (i.e. decent, for pepos), and just a few fruits were “very good”, both acorn and delicata types. About 150 fruits in total. About 30 varieties and mixes of different providers, most said to be “good” strains…
Acorn type
Overall collection
4 in the forefront going to the compost, last one kept
I’ll restart with those “vert good”, centering them my next year patch with the “very good”, + putting alongside the “good” for keeping diversity. But I may also throw that project away. Maximas and Moschatas being more rewarding. Restart with the only hulless project, which makes it simpler for isolation distances.
In summary: lacks sugar and flavors. Bland. Even when said to be good.
Regarding those lines created by Brent Loy: he must have introgressed some carotenoids and sugars in them, from maxima and moschata as explained in recently posted video.
Most of these were long storing though.
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Another dual-use pepo, or at least they say so, but the picture don’t make that obvious with some hulled seeds on the pic: https://www.rareseeds.com/squash-winter-sweetnut