From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Bemidji Minnesota

Possible to breed a giant pumpkin that tastes good?

Lots of out Giants tend to taste bland.

Maybe I am missing some nutrient if they are supposed to taste like Hubbard squash?

Anyway, I was wondering if it is possible to create a giant type of C.Maxima, that looks like a pumpkin, but also tastes good for culinary uses?

I figured using only those that have pumpkin shapes would be where to start. Maybe using pollen from an AG, and mixing with say a Queensland Blue, and a Cinderella Pumpkin or another pumpkin shaped C. Maxima, or both, and then cross them, then take the result and grow several of the seeds, and self pollinate them, and they separate the seeds, and taste test the results, and continue for several generations until one achieves a giant maxima that tastes really good, and looks like a pumpkin.

Maybe something to take on one I have more growing space.

Has anyone else ever done this, already have a good tasting giant pumpkin result?

1/20/2010 4:37:20 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

On the pies I made from the 689.5, I added more spices, particularly nutmeg, to give some more zest to it.

We push them to grow so fast and so large, I can see why they fade on flavor..... Or grow a few of the other types and mix them?

1/20/2010 6:27:39 PM

more butter and brown sugar !

1/20/2010 6:57:05 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Who the heck is going to eat a 400lb squash. We have a hard time selling 40lb hubbards.

1/20/2010 7:04:14 PM

Bemidji Minnesota

That is a good point Linus.

I was thinking of cutting one into chunks and freezing them, or reducing and canning for later use. Would make a lot of cans!

1/21/2010 12:15:08 PM

Bemidji Minnesota

Ohh, one more thing, if you are having a hard time selling Hubbards next fall I may just have to take a road trip. Hubbard is my favorite tasting squash!

1/21/2010 12:16:19 PM

phoenix AZ

Cutting them into chunks is a good idea. I cut one of mine into chunks and filled an entire chest freezer with it. Only ended up eating a little bit, fed the rest of the chunks to the dogs every day with their dogfood. They seemed to really like it.

1/21/2010 6:12:00 PM