I didn’t know what the they where but somebody gave me some and I just peeled it, cut it up and steamed it, but you could totally throw this into all sorts of casseroles, soups, roasts or hangi it’s really nice! Not too strong of a flavour kind of like a potato with a celery-like tinge, 10/10 will have more often 😂
Update: apparently they turn to mush if you roast them
I don’t think I’ve seen them before. Are you up in the northern part of the country? Just wondering if the weather might be better for growing up north so maybe they don’t have so many around here.
I live in the Wairarapa and we grow them from October-May/June. They even survived a few light frosts and over winter fine once pruned back. We would have got 100+ from our two plants this year. Recommended.
100! Oh man, is this one gonna smash my garden too?
When I grew courgette for the first time, I planted other things around it, no knowing it was gonna bulldoze it’s way along the garden taking out everything in it’s path.
A house round the corner from me grows them - they’re sorta like beans I think, climb all over the place.
As planted ours along an area we have for climbing plants. It did go over some trees behind them too, but given that’s what the area is for I won’t complain. They are tasty, store well and are good for trading with neighbours too. 10/10, will grow again. We use them as an alternative to celtuce but easier and faster to grow.
Oh! That sounds like something I need to try then, I had very little luck with Celtuce; planted a whole row of it and got maybe 3 thin stalks :)
We found celtuce did better in semi shady spots, or earlier in the season (like brassicas). We’ve got some growing slowly outdoors now.
Ah interesting, do you direct sow them? I should still have half a bag of seed from last year and i’ve got a good shadey spot I can plant in.
We’ve had pretty good luck starting them off in the greenhouse and transplanting. The birds seem to go for them as seedlings when we direct sow. Good luck.
Is it too late for planting now or is any time ok?
Any good recipes?
We’ve got a couple on the ground still (in a somewhat frost protected area) but I’d probably wait till your last frost date if you are starting fresh. We use them in stir fries, soups, stews, hotpot etc.
You can basically substitute them for anything you’d use cauliflowers or even courgettes for. They are very easy to cook and hard to go wrong with. We keep experimenting and they always turn out good.
Ok thanks! Do you plant from seed or seedlings? And can you get them from your average garden store?
You can plant the vegetable directly and it will just grow from there. I’d probably sprout it inside for a bit first (think a bit like potatoes getting eyes) and then just half bury it in the ground. We just used some we got from the local veggie market.
Hmm this says April to June, so I guess I will need to wait a while to get my chance.
Asian supermarkets will have them, if you have any in your area. We use them a lot in soups and stuff in winter.
Hmm I wonder if now I know what they look like I might see them at the weekend markets. I’m sure I’ve seen things I didn’t recognise labeled as “squash”, I’ll have to check next time I get a chance.