Lofthouse buttercup

[ddsack]

I received seeds for this from Gary's MMM swap last year and grew a couple of plants this season. What a nice, very sweet and dry squash this is! Very picturesque mix of both dark green spotted and mostly orange versions and the size is perfect for two people. I first ate a couple of the small immature ones when I harvested them at frost, and was surprised at how dense and sweet they were even not fully sized. I will try to remember to save seed (I usually toast squash seeds in the oven for snacking) and hope I get something similar next year. I did also grow Sweetmeat squash in close proximity but don't know enough about squash types to know if that's a possible crosser. Looking forward to whatever I get!



Thanks, Joseph!

[BettyC-5]

Buttercup and Sweetmeat are both C. Maxima so they could cross. Still could be a good squash if you save seeds.
I also got some Lofthouse seeds but my squash are mostly all green. Nice squash, I really like buttercups.

[PhilaGardener]

Mixing it up is very much the ethos of these lines!

It will be fun to see where they go in your garden (besides all over!).

[Tormato]

Perhaps the Lofthouse Buttercup set fruit prior to the Sweetmeat having male flowers. Seed from the first buttercup to set likely would give you the best chance of purity.

[ddsack]

Can't remember now which set when -- it was not a particularly good year for squash, waited for what seemed a long time for any fruit set, lack of bees??? Zucchini was also very slow.

I like it as is, but if it turns out crossed with my Sweetmeat, I'll just say I'm continuing Joseph's outcrossing philosophy!

[joseph]

Thanks for the grow report... These are my favorite tasting squash. My buttercups start flowering about two weeks before Sweet Meat at my place.

[joseph]

I have been working for about 5 years to add additional skin color to my buttercups. I'm finally happy enough with the results to start sharing. Retained the same great taste and texture. Somewhat larger fruits.

[KarenO]

They look great! I hope to get some seed from this years mmmm swap. See how they do in the pnw
KarenO

[ddsack]

They are very nice, Joseph! I actually like the smaller fruit, there's just the two of us to feed! I don't remember if I set out 3 or 4 plants, but I got some nice variations, some of the mostly orange, some with the spotted bi-color, and one that was mostly green, with just very faint spots. Do you notice any difference in flavor or texture between the greener vs the oranger types? I can't be sure because I ate my greens earlier and the orange only after they were stored for a while.

Karen, if you don't get seeds from the swap, let me know, I plan to save some more seeds from the uneaten ones.

[joseph]

I haven't been able to tell a difference in taste or texture due to skin color. The most important selection criteria for this project continues to be that buttercup flavor that I love.

I'm not expecting to join any seed swaps this year.

[BigVanVader]

I'm really excited to grow Joseph's muskmelon landrace. I crossed about 20 varieties last season and will be adding his into the mix this year. Tbh I'm jumping on the landrace boat completely. I don't have room for melons and winter squash, or I'd grow those as well. I am excited about growing some landrace lettuces from Frank Morton & I want to try Big Hill which Mr. Lofthouse also created.

I feel like the South is a perfect area to take advantage of the huge genetic variability a landrace provides and I'd like to eventually have all my crops be a landrace in hopes of saving money/time on cides/ferts/weeding/etc. while also having great tasting, productive crops unlike anybody else.

[Tormato]

This is a really bad thread, because I have about 10 seeds and about 6 requests for seeds. I'm thinking those disappointed will be sending a few PMs to others.