Well I guess something worked
By Fleur
@Fleura (34927)
United Kingdom
October 11, 2024 12:25pm CST
This year has been a bit of a disaster as far as vegetable-growing is concerned. Most of my beans and peas yielded just a handful of pods, if that, and the broad beans were devoured by slugs. The runner beans did better, but then the deer ate the plants, as well as my spinach. The beetroot struggled and the courgettes didn’t manage many fruits after the first flush. The tomatoes are still ripening. Caterpillars ravaged the sprouts. The corn crop wasn’t great, kohl rabi was slow and the artichoke plant is barely alive. I did get several lovely cauliflowers, and quite a lot of cucumbers, so that was something.
Last night, after a week of really mild but wet weather, it suddenly turned frosty, which was rather a surprise! So today I knew I had to do something about the squashes as the plants can’t stand frost.
I never really know what I will find as squash plants just grow all over the place and fruits can be hidden under all those big leaves. When I planted the young plants out in early summer they didn’t do anything for weeks. Thankfully they didn’t die – it wasn’t quite that cold – but they didn’t grow either, just sat there. By the time warmer summer weather finally arrived it was already late July so they didn’t get enough time to really do much, especially the Italian variety which is our favourite. But nevertheless I guess the harvest wasn’t too bad overall.
It’s just a shame I’m not that crazy about spaghetti squash, I find them a bit watery and not that tasty. Does anyone have any suggestions for those?
All rights reserved. © Text and image copyright Fleur 2024.
8 people like this
9 responses
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
11 Oct 24
We got our first frost this week, or at least they were calling for it two days. But today it's eighty F and tomorrow could again I think.
2 people like this
@Fleura (34927)
• United Kingdom
11 Oct 24
Thanks! We have ten spaghetti squashes (although we just ate one, and I have promised one to a friend, so that takes us to eight); eight butternut which we like better, and only four of the Italian ones which are the best - and only two of those are a decent size 
2 people like this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
11 Oct 24
So is that your squash harvest? If so that's a lot of squash. For spaghetti squash most people bake it, get the seeds out and use a fork to get the 'spaghetti' strands. Then they have it with marinara sauce.
I never liked it that way so I asked customers when I cashier for other ideas. One is to bake them and get the seeds out and the stands and then put butter with either mozzarella or Parmesan cheese on it. Yum.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (34927)
• United Kingdom
12 Oct 24
Yes that's it - spaghetti squash, butternut and an Italian variety called Marina di Chioggia which is very dense and tasty and keeps extremely well. Most years I get a lot more and they can be stored until April or May!
I have seen a few ideas for spaghetti squash which I will try, such as stuffed and baked, but other than that we will just roast them and eat them as a side vegetable or no doubt put some in soups and sauces.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222222)
• United States
12 Oct 24
I'm sorry you had so much trouble. Looks like a nice yield of squash. I don't have any suggestions for spaghetti squash other than spaghetti. Have a good weekend.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (153544)
• India
12 Oct 24
I gave up growing vegetables. What we need is bought and growing means more than what we need.
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@wolfgirl569 (135583)
• Marion, Ohio
12 Oct 24
My beans didn't do great this year. But we had a long dry stretch.
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