So, I've only ever tried some yellow summer squash which I didn't really care for, and zucchini which I really only enjoy in zucchini bread or as noodles. My family just didn't have winter squash around, so we didn't grow up eating it.
However, because of this forum I'm thoroughly curious about winter squash now. I love pumpkin pie, but beyond that, I like the idea of a long-term shelf stable versatile food that has character. So, I took the plunge & spent way too much money on a few likely candidates to try out after they are done as fall porch decor (I hope). We picked up some unique ornamentals that while edible, may not be palatable, but I will save the seed anyway. The big/costly varietals that I'm looking forward to trying are a Rouge Vif D'Etampes pumpkin (large red squatty), White Flat Boer Ford Pumpkin (large flat & white), & a Jarrahdale Pumpkin (boxy stout blue/grey pumpkin). There is a high likelihood that their seeds may contain crosses from open field pollination, but to me, it's worth trying.
I'll have a few options when it comes to seed saving.
1) Grow each individual variety of seed out to see if they were cross pollinated.
2) Intentionally plant a mixture of the three to see what comes of it.
3) Keep some seed from each variety stored away as "original" & then take some seed from each variety & intentionally let them cross. The "original" seed could likely be cross pollinated with anything from the cheese wheel type, to baby doll, to a half-dozen orange/yellow pumpkin varieties to Hubbard squash, or....?
I would definitely try isolating the varieties first, but that would only serve to verify their true to type characteristics before making the intentional crosses anyway (simply for curiosity/ease of seed saving), so I'm likely better off just planting the seeds as a mixture, & if I like the resulting individual fruit, keep its seeds in the "mix".
I know I'm putting the cart before the horse here, in that I haven't even tried them to see if I like them or not, but they are interesting looking pumpkins nonetheless.
Do any of you have
experience with Rouge Vif D'Etampes pumpkin (large red squatty), White Flat Boer Ford Pumpkin (large flat & white), & a Jarrahdale Pumpkin (boxy stout blue/grey) or their crosses? How would you recommend using them to a newbie? I would like to be able to freeze the excess as well. Open to advice...
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