I'm a person who braises and stews (food that is). By habit, I've gravitated to an interest in squashes.
Not one to tolerate the angst of growing standard zucchinis in SEQld -- I defer to other varieties.
This time of year the Tromboncino option isn't hugely productive, but with foresight I've planted many more Tatume (aka Calabacita) than I need.
Tatume is a Mexican staple. Grows without problem in this humid weather, fruits profusely and tastes fabulous.
No major diseases.
There is a longer variety but the round is so nicely contained.
As vines, they do take off, but i find therm better behaved than other climbing squashes as I can grow them along rope lines if I want. Picked young, about the size of a cricket ball, they won't weigh your trellising down as their growth habit is much like choko.
They do taste a lot better than chokos. As the local pumpkin hub points out:
"Inside, the thick yellow flesh is firm, moist and not stringy with a nice mild taste and medium sweet finish. Flesh is plentiful." -- Pumpkin Paradise, Bundaberg
If you are of the zucchini persuasion -- I'd definitely choose Tatume as the accompanying crop to Tomboncino.
Very versatile in the kitchen too as these recipes suggest.
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My Tatume are fruiting now. I get rather greedy with them as I can't wait for these squashes to get to eating size. Since I have so many climbing squash varieties -- gourds and pumpkins and whatever -- in my garden throughout the year, it is hard deciding which is which.
But the Tatume is tasty and versatile in the kitchen. So I wait and watch the flowers form in hope of a menu item. I much prefer it to ALL the zucchinis -- including Trombonchino.
I have Tatume coming on and Seminole Pumpkins as well as a couple of fruits from what I assume is Cucurbita ficifolia
Squash variety complexities drive me crazy!
But C.ficifolia looks like this:
In Mexico, among its other names, it is called Chilacayote. Last time I grew it I kept getting it mixed up with Calabacita and cooked it accordingly. Well it's very different and has a sweeter taste and nutritious seeds +++.
I'm not sure how I'll prepare it after harvest.
Back in 2017 I cooked it this way: mistaking it for Calabacita
I went in way too early. I planted when I got the seed months ago. Is it too late to plant now?
I don't know. Just try some of them. And see. So long as there isn't frostiness it should be kosher. It also masquerades with an American accent as a 'Winter Squash'.
Today's delivery
That yellow packet is normally used as a seed packet, are you sure there are not inside, he may have given you some freebies.
Sorry Barb and Chris. I got three lots of seeds. The Tatume from Pumpkin Paradise and a Golden Nugget pumpkin and Burgundy Snake Beans from Happy Valley Seeds. They all turned up so quickly on the same day. Wahoo! Total cost was less than $12.
Great! Happy planting.
Does that mean, Andy, that they sent you Golden Nugget instead of the promised Tatume? If so, it's a wonder I didn't hear the explosion from my place.
You're right Dave. Having trouble finding seed.
You'll find some seeds here. Be quick. Like immediately as it's their last one. I haven't any left. I only have chilacayote.
I must make sure to save a good lot of Tatume seeds...
We've been eating Tatume these last few days. Young picked, of course, so I need to let some fruits be.
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