Gem squash
Posted by Fiona Nevile in Vegetables | 84 comments
“We’re going to have a gem squash for supper tonight.”
I produced the dinky vegetable for Danny to see.
“How do you cook it?”
“Prick the skin in a few places and simmer for 20 minutes. Cut it in half and serve with lashings of butter and ground black pepper.”
“So it’s tasteless then?”
I knew that I would have a bit of a fight on my hands to get him to taste the squash. So I thought up a delicious supper menu that would allow the squash to be slipped surreptitiously under the blanket, so to speak.
I went up to the Rat Room and announced the menu to Danny.
“Lamb cutlets, flash fried in bacon fat with tarragon, cardamom, allspice and white wine. Individual ramekins of creamed potato with a parmesan topping, Lightly mashed flageolets with creme fraiche and Tabasco and scattered with crisp, streaky bacon. And squash.”
He heroically waved the squash through. Who wouldn’t on a Wednesday evening?
The asparagus steamer was handy for simmering the squash (I knew that it would be useful outside the asparagus season). I sliced it in two when the rest of the meal was ready and had a teeny taste before D rumbled downstairs. It was sweet and tasty. Delicious.
Danny’s fork hovered over the plate. Would he eat the best or worst bit first? He bravely scooped out some gem squash and tasted it.
“This is the first time in my life that I have enjoyed a squash. How much do they cost? I must look out for them in the remaindered bin at Waitrose.”
A good move as they have a long shelf life. However, the fresher they are the better. Gem squash are a delicacy.
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Has anyone tried growing ‘gerammies’ in UK/Ireland? I have just returned from a holiday in SA and harvested my own seeds and managed to bring them back with me and am now wanting to try and grow them here in Ireland. Can someone advise.
Hi Chris
Thanks so much for dropping by with this information, much appreciated!
W Robinson & Sons Preston, have little Gem seeds,
I have germinated 4 plants and are doing very well, £2.00 for 7 seeds they are on line. all the best.
Hi Beverley
I think that Kate has answered your question. It seems to be quite hard to find gem squash seeds in garden centres. I bought a gem squash to harvest the seeds in the end.
Hi Kate
Thanks for your help.
Chiltern Seeds, Boartree Style Cumbria- they have a website- do a very wide selection of squash seeds.
Hi
I live in the UK now (from South Africa) where Gem Squash was easily available to buy.
I’d like to try growing some here in the garden.
Can anyone tell me where I can buy seed?
Hi Penny (NZ)
Great idea to try growing squashes in NZ. I’m sure that they’d grow well.
Good idea filling them with peas!
I have been living in New Zealand for 7 years now and miss Gems so much I have decided to attempt to grow some! I think I have left it a bit late in the year but will see how I go. My memories of the growing up were cut in half, seeds scooped out and filled with sweet baby peas! YUM!! (Not sure what the Kiwi family will think of them)
Thanks for tips !
the squash recipe sounds perfect-just the way to eat them-i first had them about 20 yrs ago when i was lucky enough to visit relatives in South africa and couldnt believe how nice they were-mike from south africa please send me some seeds lol-butter n salt is all you need to enjoy squash x
Hi Pat,
I am so impressed that you are writing three blogs! I am looking forward to growing squash next year too.