man@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
said:
>Each plant seems content to grow one "pumpkin" and then won't set
>further fruit, or if it does, the extra fruit are practically nothing,
>never getting bigger than a tennis ball. I figure I can grow more if I
>harvest the first setting fruits before the season nears an end and let
>another fruit set for each plant. That might double my crop, I figure.
It seems the plants are aborting any beyond the first fruit set as beyond
their capacity to sup****t. Squash will do that.
>
>Well, here's my question: these kabochas keep very well and in fact I
>still have one or two from last season in the house. If I pick them way
>before the season is over, say even before they turn completely grey
>like they eventually do, will they keep as well as if I let them "cure
>completely" on the vine? At what point can I "safely" remove them from
>the vines?
No, if you pick them early enough to leave time for more fruit, you will
only get two inferior squash instead of one fantastic squash per plant,
and maybe not get that second squash at all. (The days grow short
quite rapidly at the end of the season.)
For best keeping, the squash should be grown on the vine until it has
a tough rind and very hard stem. Generally, this isn't until the squash
has reached its proper varietal appearance. (One exception being some
varieties of ornamental pumpkins which are bred to color up early.)
Many winter squash will take on a silvery/powdery 'bloom' when they
are mature.
For best flavor, squash should be left on the vine as long as possible,
and removed only when the vines have begun to die back and/or frosts
threaten.
"Tetsukabuta" is kabocha-type squash variety that is exceptionally
productive per vine. It is a hybrid between two species of squash,
Cucurbita maxima and C. moschata, and should be grown along with
either a standard kabocha or buttercup (C. maxima) or a butternut
type (C. moschata) for best fruit set. Seeds available from Pinetree
Garden Seeds (in the Around the World > Asian section) .
I grow this every year, along with a butternut, and it definitely
produces multiple squashes per plant for me, where most other
large fruited squash produce no more than one (maybe two) per vine.
--
Pat in Plymouth MI ('someplace.net' is comcast)
After enlightenment, the laundry.
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