zxcvbob said:


Pat Kiewicz wrote:

My favorite kabocha variety is a cross-species hybrid variety called
'Tetsukabuto' (translates to Iron Helmet). Very beautiful squash,
green with silver flecks and 'bloom' on the rind, sometimes washed
with orange. The C. moschata parent gives it resistance to squash
vine borers plus productivity and the C. maxima parent the superb
flavor and texture. (Available from Pinetree Garden Seeds)



How productive are they? (Tetsukabuto) And are they any good picked
immature, like a summer squash?

Never had one immature; they are too good as a winter squash to muck
around that way.

As for productivity, two hills of Tetsukabuto will generally equal the
production of the other six hills of squash I plant, in terms of numbers,
though not quite by weight.

The only problem with the variety is that it is a hybrid, so no seed
saving, and it must be grown along side a variety of C. moschata
(for example, a butternut) or C. maxima (like a more typical kabocha
or buttercup) to ensure pollination.

I like to put away a lot of squash puree each year for soup and
waffles (yummmmy...with home-made spiced apple jelly) so
I'm always trying new varieties looking for those with good flavor
and substance as well as productivity. And the one constant for
many years now has been Tetsukabuto.
--
Pat in Plymouth MI

"Yes, swooping is bad."

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