Choice of pumpkins for storage

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32902, 28 April 1972, Page 11

Choice of pumpkins for storage

Planting of pumpkin, .i squash, and, to a lesser 1 extent, marrow usually 1 yield sufficient surplus fruit for several months. Provided the correct i varieties are chosen these will keep in storage for a considerable time. Suitable varieties of pumpkins for keeping include Crown and its strain,! Whangaparoa Crown, which have gained enormously in! popularity in the last few years, Iron Bark, Queensland Blue, Triamble, which is now overrated as a good keeper. There are many excellent squashes which will hold very well, and for a long time. Golden Hubbard is a real old favourite in this range. However, from the popularity standpoint, Buttercup is now well ahead and it will retain its quality almost indefinitely, it seems. Butternut will keep well but the strain, Hercules, which is an improved form is considered to have longer | lasting capabilities, though ■ its sweetness might not be Ito everyone’s liking. j Red Warren, or Warren’ Scarlet, is primarily regarded; as an early squash yet it will j hold very well in storage. I Supermarket hybrid may I not be as well known as!

most of the other cucurbits mentioned, but this F.l. hybrid, which can set a tremendous crop of fruit, keeps very well through the winter. Anyone who tries this variety for the first time should be aware that a pollinator

is essential for fruit set. Varieties such as Crown, Buttercup or Triamble are suitable. USE MARROWS FIRST Marrows enjoy a variable popularity, possibly because they are not used properly. As it is, they are best when picked when still young and immature. Although they will keep as long as many pumpkins and squashes, they do not seem to retain their flavour nearly so well. For this reason it is preferable to use them first. For those who like them experience indicates that the green bush varieties keep longer than the white ones. One of the most important factors governing the storage life of cucurbits is maturity; they must have reached this stage to be suitable for keeping. They should be left out as long as possible and fielded by cutting from the vine and leaving in the open for at least a week.

A mature cucurbit from) this particular group will’ not yield to thumb nail! pressure. ' Pumpkins, squashes and marrows tend to attain a denser, mor? even colouring as they approach maturity. The striping on marrows becomes more accentuated and lit pays to harvest them before this has been fully reached as they are inclined ito become stringy if left too [long.

FROST DANGER Fielding is carried out to complete the hardening process of the skin, but as they are susceptible to even a few degrees of frost care should be taken not to get caught in . this way. A glasshouse or veranda provide suitable alternatives for field>ing in the open. I When removing them from [the vine, use a knife or secaiteurs and leave about half lan inch Of stalk attached to the fruit. Only perfect speciImens should be set aside for storage. Reject any with blemishes or which are still immature at harvesting time.

.These should be kept for l early use. Although there is some prejudice against retaining smaller specimens of all varieties, little difference has been found in their relative keeping qualities, provided that they are quite sound and fully mature. A dry, airy place with a i reasonably stable and not too ’high or low a temperature lis the ideal storage place. I The fruits should be laid flat and not more than one on I top of another. Handling at | all times must be done with all care to avoid any bruises, the slightest of which could be the starting point for a (storage rot. COPPER SPRAY Dipping or spraying with a copper spray such as Bordeaux mixture or copper oxychloride is worth carrying out, and where there is a big quantity on hand it is recommended that this be (done at least once a month. iThiram or dichlone are suittable alternatives which can be applied instead of the ! copper sprays. ' Irrespective of how assidu‘ous is the selection, inspection and control, some of the ; (fruit will begin to soften and , 1 rots will develop. For this treason regular inspection II should not be overlooked, and this might well be (weekly. Any fruit which 11 shows signs of “going off” 11 should be brought to the fore | for early consumption.