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Yard Stick, Walking Stick, Squash?

September 8th, 2012

Early this summer I planted seeds for ‘Trombetto’ squash from Renee’s Garden over at my mom’s.

The flavor is supposed to be like that of an artichoke. We had one for breakfast yesterday morning. Not sure if artichoke is how I would describe it, but it was good. Different than the usual zucchini.

It’s a climbing vine, much like a cucumber. The fruits hang down and are quite amazing when you see them, so much different than any other type of summer squash.

I harvested these two beauties on Thursday. My mom said she had no idea when to pick them so she left them on the vine. Growing interesting varieties of vegetables is one of the fun things about having an edible garden. Each year I try to grow a few new fun things.

What’s the strangest vegetable/fruit you’ve grown?

16 Comments to “Yard Stick, Walking Stick, Squash?”
  1. Andrea Duke on September 8, 2012 at 5:56 am

    Very interesting and fun pictures!

    I am one that usually sticks with what I know. I would perhaps try different things if I had more space.

    I didn’t grow any this year, but we love Mexican Sour gherkins. I like them when they are on the smaller size, so that they are not as sour.

    They grow and produce forever! I had them all summer last year until sometime in November.

    Reply to Andrea Duke's comment

  2. Adelina Anderson on September 8, 2012 at 6:55 am

    Apparently I grew lemon cuccumbers last year. I had no idea and thought that they went bad so I composted them. Imagine my surprise when I went to a local garden stand that was selling them. Felt so bad afterwards that I composted mine.

    Reply to Adelina Anderson's comment

  3. Lori on September 8, 2012 at 8:39 am

    I grew these squash last year. The vines were so productive and they took over the yard to the point were my husband was calling it the Little Shop of Horrors. They were fun to grow, but I’m not sure I was blown away enough by the taste to devote the space in my tiny garden to them again. But I do love to try new things, especially every color of tomato that I can get my hands on! This year I grew wasabi arugula from Renee’s which was really unique, and some funny little squash called “Pottimarron” from Seed Savers. Trying new things part of the joy of gardening!

    Reply to Lori's comment

    • Susy on September 9, 2012 at 6:56 am

      I too have seeds for ‘Wasabi’ arugula but didn’t get it planted this year. I might grow it in a container this winter inside.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  4. victoria on September 8, 2012 at 9:23 am

    Impressive! Does it have a soft skin like summer squash? Gardening is always an adventure :) nothing too obscure in my garden this year, though my lemongrass is gigantic. Time to harvest some reeds!

    Reply to victoria's comment

  5. KimH on September 8, 2012 at 9:54 am

    Many years ago, I used to grow luffa in my garden. It was fun and all my elderly neighbors I was gardening friends with thought I was weird. lol

    I did get some sort of long green squash in my garden squash mix I bought this year.. but I didnt get to eat any of them. They were long & thin & probably should have been on a trellis because they started curling.
    My “adopted” family got a couple of them but I never did harvest any for me to eat. I’ll look for them again next year & plan appropriately.

    Reply to KimH's comment

  6. sharon on September 8, 2012 at 2:31 pm

    weirdly wonderful

    Reply to sharon's comment

  7. Peggy on September 8, 2012 at 3:48 pm

    Those are so cool! Our backyard is surrounded by a chain link fence and I am really looking forward to trying out difference types of vining plants to grow on it. Our raised bad garden butt up against it so it will be the perfect situation.

    What did you think of the flavor? My family is not fond of squash but I do enjoy freezing it up for breads, etc during the winter.

    We grew luffa once and a black “cherry” style tomato this year. Our big tomato eater was pretty freaked out by the looks of them as they has greenish striations and he said they reminded him of eyeballs.

    Reply to Peggy's comment

    • Susy on September 9, 2012 at 6:57 am

      The flavor isn’t bad, close to a yellow summer squash than a green zucchini.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  8. Maybelline on September 8, 2012 at 7:27 pm

    I tried growing loofahs but it didn’t work out well. Moonflowers might be one of the most unusual plants I’ve grown.

    Reply to Maybelline's comment

    • Susy on September 9, 2012 at 6:59 am

      I too have tries loofahs but I didn’t get the planted early enough.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  9. Bonnie Fowler on September 9, 2012 at 12:19 am

    I tried to grow the mexican sour gherkin last year in pots. I had pretty vines and small flowers but only one tiny fruit that disappeared. I had also tried the white cucumber and the crystal apple but they didn’t do much better. I don’t have enough pollinating insects. I like to grow a variety of carrots, radishes, and beets in different shapes and colors. Purple pole beans have done well the past couple years. I have a black cherokee tomato that tastes good. I think these interesting varieties make it fun for kids too.

    Reply to Bonnie Fowler's comment

    • Susy on September 9, 2012 at 6:58 am

      I agree, when I was a kid my mom let me pick a few interesting things from the seed catalog each year. It seems it was always some sort of blue vegetable.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  10. Candie on September 9, 2012 at 9:37 pm

    I grew Chinese Noodle Beans this year. They are very very long red beans. I have a picture of my two year old some some and they are as long as he is! They taste good also kind of peppery… you just have to pick them before they get to big around they can get a weird texture. I will definitely grow them again!

    Reply to Candie's comment

  11. Rocky on September 10, 2012 at 1:35 pm

    I have grown the same trumpet squash in my garden last year but did not use trellis, so it ended up not straight. This year it is hanging from my bean tower, and it is now about 5 feet long. It can get up to 7 feet long. see this pic http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2011/09/22/squashland/ Oh, one thing to add, this squash can be harvested after it has matured just like winter squash. It will store very well. (Mine lasted until next spring). It is not very sweet, but it can be used just like pumpkin in soup and pies.

    I too try something fun to grow each year. This year, white cucumber and black tomato were fun to watch, and good to eat. I’m also growing Jerusalem artichoke, groundnuts, and turnip rooted parsley for my perennial vegetable garden.

    Reply to Rocky's comment

  12. Sue on September 11, 2012 at 10:55 am

    I’m growing yacon this year. It’s a perennial vegetable related to sunflowers. It has a seven month growing time, but I got the crowns from someone in Poland, ME who grows them on his homestead and has very good luck with them. They are his young son’s favorite veg. I have them in a tote in a tiny greenhouse I have. They’re taller than the ones I’ve seen growing in other places here in Maine. I sure hope I get some tubers out of it to try!

    Reply to Sue's comment

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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