This quite rare and fantastic min squash hails from South Africa but is a hardy little plant!
In 2024 I grew it both in the greenhouse and outside and the plants outside matched those grown inside in productivity.
It has the sweetest flesh in mini portions so you do not have to wrestle with thick squash skin; just cut off the top, scoop out the seeds (and save to grow later) add a knob of butter and roast for about 50 mins to an hour and a quarter on a low to medium heat. Add parmesan to taste; They are absolutely delicious! About 2 per person does for a small meal or if you fill them with rice/fried peppers etc they are more filling.
Another benefit is that the fruit will keep for around 3 months after harvest in a cool frost free place so you can enjoy them into winter.
They are creeping squash with quite small leaves and the plants can grow several metres long. They could be grown for example under tall tomatoes in a polytunnel where they will creep along the ground and not compete with other plants for light, but also cover the ground and surpress weeds. Just make sure you open the doors of the polytunnel or greenhouse to allow pollinating insects in.
Like all squash they do appreciate a rich soil with plenty of added rotted horse manure or similar for a good yield.
Expect anywhere between 6 and 12 squash per plant although I understand that up to 20 per plant can be achieved in a good summer.
This is a really special squash which deserves to be more widely grown and is cherished by the South Africans for very good reason!
