General information and discussion about cultivating melons, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins and gourds.
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#1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Southeastern Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,069
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I was surprised to learn that RF is a moschata, which would suggest good SVB and squash bug resistance. Is that consistent with your experiences?
Also, I can't seem to find a clear description of the growth habit. Does it grow on long vines like other moschatas? How long? I have family members who are fond of crooknecks, but I find them a bit watery and bland, and they're especially attractive to pests from what I understand. Seems like this would be a good compromise, as it's supposed to be firmer with stronger flavor (seems like this is true of most Italian varieties), and if consistent with other moschatas, it should have more resistance to pests. |
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#2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Southeastern Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,069
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It seems the article that identified it as a moschata is probably wrong. Other sources identify it as a pepo, which makes more sense, and I have found YouTube video that indicates that it's a bush habit.
I'm still attracted by the promise of more flavor than most summer squash, though, and would love to get any personal anecdotes about that. |
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#3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Sunol, CA
Posts: 2,723
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The chefs we sell to want 1 summer squash from us -- Butternut Rugosa.
We sell it as both a summer squash and a winter squash. It is 90% of the squash we grow, and it makes life simpler. Butternut rugosa is a moschata, and it sounds like some people are confusing butternut rugosa with rugosa fruliana. |
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#4 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Southeastern Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,069
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Oooo. What does the Italian Rugosa Butternut taste like as a summer squash?? At what size do you pick it? I know that all winter squashes can be picked and eaten immature, but many don't have the production and flavor to really serve as summer squash crops. If Butternut Rugosa is an exception, I will be thrilled! Aah, that makes perfect sense. Thanks, Fred. You always give good feedback. Last edited by gorbelly; September 24, 2016 at 03:16 PM. |
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#5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Sunol, CA
Posts: 2,723
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Butternut rugosa is an exception. It's flavor is much cleaner than zucchini and it is great for raw preparations.
We pick it at all green sizes from 6 inches up to full size. Different chefs like different immature stages. Our main problem right now is that our "summer squash" sales of Butternut Rugosa have reduced our winter squash production. |
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#6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Southeastern Pennsylvania
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Fred, what do you mean by "cleaner"? I actually like a summer squash with some squashy funk and nuttiness to it. The ones that have a more cucumbery, fresh flavor strike me as a bit bland.
It seems like a lot of people don't actually like the flavor of summer squash and therefore rate more highly the varieties that are sweet and relatively flavorless. That's not what I'm looking for, as I do actively enjoy the taste of summer squash and like more robust flavored ones. Sweet is good, but a good nuttiness and "squashiness" for lack of a better word is better than a lighter flavor to me. |
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#7 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Sunol, CA
Posts: 2,723
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But Butternut Rugosa does have a robust, and deep flavor. Just without the annoying chalkiness. |
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#8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Southeastern Pennsylvania
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Sounds perfect! I think I'll try it next year as a summer squash, and maybe as a winter squash as well. How much production on average do you estimate per vine as a summer squash? I will almost certainly purchase the Franchi seed, which I believe you also recommend.
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#9 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Sunol, CA
Posts: 2,723
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Have had consistently good luck with Franchi seed -- and the Euro pack sizes are a bonus.
We probably get 50-100 lbs per vine, in a field (farm) situation. I'm not the best farmer, though. I bet others could get more. Quote:
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#10 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Southeastern Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,069
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Well, I will temper my expectations to my experience level and because I will be growing them up a trellis, but even so, it seems like a good bet. I'm already impatient for next year! Thanks for the great info, Fred. |
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#11 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Sunol, CA
Posts: 2,723
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I would think twice about a trellis, if you want mature fruits. They are typically between 7 and 15 lbs and they would not be easily supported by a trellis.
It would be like growing watermelons on a trellis... |
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#12 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Southeastern Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,069
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Thanks, Fred. Unfortunately, I don't have the space to let them sprawl. I use slings when needed. The supports I use for squash go up a brick wall and aren't flimsy freestanding trellises, and when vines get really rampant, I let them go up onto my garage roof. I'm not going to try to grow any 30 pound pumpkins or anything, but 7-15 # squash should be doable.
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#13 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Sunol, CA
Posts: 2,723
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You need a bigger place!
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#14 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Southeastern Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,069
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FYI, it appears that the rugosa friulana warty yellow crookneck-style summer squash is, indeed, C. moschata. That's how it's labeled on the Franchi website and on the seed packages.
Very interesting. I may have to try one just to see what I get. I've never heard of a bush plant that was a moschata. I guess I'll plant it somewhere it can spread in case it's not a bush plant. |
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#15 |
Guest
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I bought my seed from Baker Creek which calls it C pepo. I didn't get any squash - deer devoured the plants.
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