Tomatoville® Gardening Forums

Tomatoville® Gardening Forums (http://www.tomatoville.com/index.php)
-   Cucurbits (http://www.tomatoville.com/forumdisplay.php?f=155)
-   -   Lofthouse buttercup (http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=46230)

ddsack November 22, 2017 01:11 AM

Lofthouse buttercup
 
I received seeds for this from Gary's MMM swap last year and grew a couple of plants this season. What a nice, very sweet and dry squash this is! Very picturesque mix of both dark green spotted and mostly orange versions and the size is perfect for two people. I first ate a couple of the small immature ones when I harvested them at frost, and was surprised at how dense and sweet they were even not fully sized. I will try to remember to save seed (I usually toast squash seeds in the oven for snacking) and hope I get something similar next year. I did also grow Sweetmeat squash in close proximity but don't know enough about squash types to know if that's a possible crosser. Looking forward to whatever I get!

[URL="https://postimages.org/"][IMG]https://s25.postimg.org/txn5lcp1b/Lofthouse_Squash.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Thanks, Joseph!

BettyC-5 November 22, 2017 02:16 AM

Buttercup and Sweetmeat are both C. Maxima so they could cross. Still could be a good squash if you save seeds.
I also got some Lofthouse seeds but my squash are mostly all green. Nice squash, I really like buttercups.

PhilaGardener November 22, 2017 06:28 AM

Mixing it up is very much the ethos of these lines! :yes:

It will be fun to see where they go in your garden (besides all over!). :twisted:

Tormato November 22, 2017 02:00 PM

Perhaps the Lofthouse Buttercup set fruit prior to the Sweetmeat having male flowers. Seed from the first buttercup to set likely would give you the best chance of purity.

ddsack November 22, 2017 05:44 PM

Can't remember now which set when -- it was not a particularly good year for squash, waited for what seemed a long time for any fruit set, lack of bees??? Zucchini was also very slow.

I like it as is, but if it turns out crossed with my Sweetmeat, I'll just say I'm continuing Joseph's outcrossing philosophy! :lol: :lol:

joseph November 22, 2017 09:12 PM

Thanks for the grow report... These are my favorite tasting squash. My buttercups start flowering about two weeks before Sweet Meat at my place.

joseph December 16, 2017 02:52 PM

I have been working for about 5 years to add additional skin color to my buttercups. I'm finally happy enough with the results to start sharing. Retained the same great taste and texture. Somewhat larger fruits.

[IMG]http://garden.lofthouse.com/images/squash/buttercup-2017_640.jpg[/IMG]

KarenO December 16, 2017 03:02 PM

They look great! I hope to get some seed from this years mmmm swap. See how they do in the pnw
KarenO

ddsack December 16, 2017 04:32 PM

They are very nice, Joseph! I actually like the smaller fruit, there's just the two of us to feed! I don't remember if I set out 3 or 4 plants, but I got some nice variations, some of the mostly orange, some with the spotted bi-color, and one that was mostly green, with just very faint spots. Do you notice any difference in flavor or texture between the greener vs the oranger types? I can't be sure because I ate my greens earlier and the orange only after they were stored for a while.

Karen, if you don't get seeds from the swap, let me know, I plan to save some more seeds from the uneaten ones.

joseph December 17, 2017 12:12 AM

I haven't been able to tell a difference in taste or texture due to skin color. The most important selection criteria for this project continues to be that buttercup flavor that I love.

I'm not expecting to join any seed swaps this year.

BigVanVader December 18, 2017 11:33 PM

I'm really excited to grow Joseph's muskmelon landrace. I crossed about 20 varieties last season and will be adding his into the mix this year. Tbh I'm jumping on the landrace boat completely. I don't have room for melons and winter squash, or I'd grow those as well. I am excited about growing some landrace lettuces from Frank Morton & I want to try Big Hill which Mr. Lofthouse also created.

I feel like the South is a perfect area to take advantage of the huge genetic variability a landrace provides and I'd like to eventually have all my crops be a landrace in hopes of saving money/time on cides/ferts/weeding/etc. while also having great tasting, productive crops unlike anybody else.

Tormato December 29, 2017 02:07 PM

This is a really bad thread, because I have about 10 seeds and about 6 requests for seeds. I'm thinking those disappointed will be sending a few PMs to others.;)


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:48 AM.


★ Tomatoville® is a registered trademark of Commerce Holdings, LLC ★ All Content ©2022 Commerce Holdings, LLC ★