Lots. Might even be the main type overall. It’s just that the ones with light colour are some of the most popular. Not sure which is dominant. I feel like dark has become more common in my population over the last 2 years, but can’t say much for this summer as it’s pretty much a wash.
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Here’s what I have growing. I lost track of what’s what because I lost so many to a few days of high winds when I first planted outside, then a frost in the middle of June. Thankfully I put a lot of squash seeds in the ground just before the frost but neglected to label them properly, so it’s a big surprise. I used squash seeds I got from GTS, Canadian seed swap, EFN and many I bought from different seed companies and some I collected from last year.
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Can anyone tell me more about what varieties or types of squash have these beautiful, slightly bluish, heavily mottled leaves?
It may have come to me through the GTS seed exchange. But it may also have come from other sources.
I don’t think it’s going to produce fruit but I enjoy looking at the plant quite a bit.
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Enjoying everyone’s photos, even the ones with squash bugs. My nemesis this spring was snails that kept munching on newly germinated seedlings. Direct sowed seeds of the 3 major species two or three times before finally getting some moschata that took over a plot. I think the fruits are similar to those of @Patate and @AlinBoise . The vines are quite vigorous with large leaves and flowers. Hoping the fruits will taste good.
Here’s a zucchini that must taste good:
Every day, more of it would be missing until it just disappeared. Guess it won’t be part of my landrace.
Early in the spring, I threw some old squash seeds in an area covered with wood chips but that does not receive supplemental water. Many seeds germinated but eventually died from lack of water. About mid-August and again mid-September, we had a couple of thundershowers. A few squash seeds germinated and appear to be doing well in the slightly cooler temperatures of early fall. Too bad they won’t have time to produce fruit.
If you have extra seed, consider sharing with your neighbors, a local seed library and/or community gardening group. Going to Seed will also gladly accept your seed donations year-round. However, if you would like your seed to make it into the 2025 mixes, please send them in by the end of November, beginning of December. Thank you!
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I suspect the green & yellow squash may be from one of my seeds! I sent in seeds collected from cocozelle-type squashes (Romanesco and similar others) but I think many of them were pollinated by Zephyr, which is a green-and-yellow variety, very healthy and prolific but not as tasty as the Romanesco. How did this one taste?
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I am sad to report a complete failure for Year 2 of my pepo landrace. I got great germination, lots of healthy-looking plants, lots of male flowers, and not a single female flower! As of September 25, one plant (out of about 50) is still alive and flowering, and it still has only male flowers. I’m thinking this may have to do with the extremely hot and humid weather we had in late spring/early summer. Should I replant next year from the seeds I saved in 2023, or start with new varieties?
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So sorry about your pepos, Masha. If it is due to the weather, I would probably try the 2023 seeds again next year. Maybe add a couple new varieties to the mix just in case? If there’s a somewhat shadier spot available, maybe plant a few seeds there? I’ve got squash plants in 4 different spots around the house, and the best ones are in an area that gets morning sun and afternoon shade.
We had many days well over 90 F this summer. Midsummer in my low input garden is not a productive time. A lot of my plants seem to stall until the temps drop back into the 80’s. Of course, then they have to hurry to make seed before the frost comes. Hopefully they figure that out!
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I wouldn’t have thought to put squash in the shade! Though I suppose they do grow with corn plants. I’ll try that next year. Also hedging my bets between old/new seeds is probably a good idea. Thanks!
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I just did a quick check of the moschata vines in my best plot. If it’s any consolation, at least 4 vines had no fruit. They are taking up a lot of space. Should have followed my own suggestion and eaten the vines and flowers!
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Last week we roasted the one Moschata that survived the squash bugs and saved the seeds. I’m not confident any will germinate, though. They’re all pretty thin, and don’t seem to have any “meat” to them. I had to pull all the plants in late August due to squash bugs, and I’m not sure the seeds had time to mature. I’ll try them anyway, but I won’t share any back to GTS, since I really don’t know if they’ll germinate. Here’s what the inside of the squash looked like:
The flavor wasn’t really even very good, but that again could be due to it not really maturing. I’ve still got quite a few seeds from this year’s GTS mix, so I’ll try again, and hope for fewer squash bugs next year!
My GTS tomatoes and muskmelons did great though, this year. I think I’m a convert to the landrace concept!
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Your squash looks very good. It’s too bad it didn’t get more time on the vine. Do you know how many days the fruit was on the vine after pollination? I think about 30 days is the minimum to have a viable embryo. After you dry the seeds, you could take a few and do a germination test just to get an idea of their viability.
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It was only about 10 days from the time I first found it to when the squash bugs were so bad I had to pull the vine. It was already fairly good sized before I noticed it under the leaves, though, so it’s possible it had 30 days… maybe. I’ll try the germination test and see.
Thanks for the info!
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The seed sown during the last week of August, has a few survivors. These plants went thru weeks of 110 degrees. No insect pressure as of yet, I dont know what they will be, moschata and pepo I’m thinking.
I probably wont have seed in time for the GTS 2025 mix.
This photo is from 2022, i started the burn barrel for heat to protect the squash, tomatoes and the garden, from frost.
Hi, all. Just a quick reminder that November 22 is the deadline for sending seeds to Going to Seed for the 2025 mixes. Here are the guidelines:
Your seeds are also welcome after Nov 22, so don’t hesitate to save seeds from your good-tasting, long-keeping squash as winter progresses. Thanks for being a part of this community and helping Going to Seed accomplish its mission!
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