#candy roaster

This is the Candy Roaster Squash (Cucurbita maxima) flower and fruit. This squash variety has been bred by the Cherokee tribe in the Southeastern USA for generations before it became popular around the world. Squash blossoms are generally BIG flowers that develop into even BIGGER fruits! This is a "male" flower with stamens bearing pollen which pollinators such as bees which will carry to the female flowers on a different plant. Female squash blossoms are the ones that develop into fruits, and their pistils often have a branched appearance.

The taste of autumn is in the air! I’d like to share my proudest accomplishment from the garden this season - my pumpkin and winter squash harvest. The small orange pumpkins are Baby Bear (Cucurbita pepo), the dark green round squash are Honey Bear Acorn Squash (Cucurbita pepo turbinata), the silvery pumpkins are Crown Prince squash (Cucurbita pepo), and the long peach coloured ones are Candy Roasters (Cucurbita maxima). The long orange squash are hybrids of zucchini and pumpkin that developed a hard skin so they can be stored as winter squash. Not pictured here are my Japanese Uchiki Kuri squash (Cucurbita maxima) and my Peruvian Macre Zapallo (Cucurbita maxima) which are still developing on their vines. My family and I are going to try out a multitude of pumpkin recipes this winter! Please share some of your favourite recipes in the comments.