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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Try www.mammothonion.co.uk/shop/5/index.htm or W Robinson (if you are in the UK)
I brought my seeds back from NZ – Kings Seeds (www.kingsseeds.co.nz). These have proved VERY good ; my NZ resident SA daughter-in-law was suffering from a Gem Squash deficiency so is growing them 80 at a time.
I planted greenhouse-raised plants in end May, and am now harvesting. Much less hit/miss than acorn. I grow them over trellises to save space.
After hardening store them in old tights hanging up in the garage.
If you are cooking in microwave, give them good stabs round the middle otherwise it’s a messy explosion
Ok so my question is a bit different. The shop i buy them from says the’re going out of season now. I am on a pretty restrictive diet which surprisingly allows gem squash. So i bought 15kg of gem squash today from Spingbok Butchery today in Lane Cove (NSW for those interested).
My question is does anybody know how long gem squash lasts before going off?
Hi Costa
Some hard skinned squashes can keep for several months in the right conditions. A cool shed, wrapped individualy in several layers of newspaper and stored apart should keep you happy in gem squash for a couyple of months. Look in the internet for more tips.
They last for a long time, but are best eaten fresh. They tend to go stringy and dark yellow inside if left for a very long time. The outside also tends to turn yellowish and becomes quite hard to cut in half.
I LOVE Gem sqaush. Definetely a staple for me when I was in SA and when I go home to visit. Here in Canada they don’t appear in stores for sale where I am.
I however found a company who sold the seeds and I have attempted to grow them on my own. Don’t get too many in a season though planting them in a planter on my deck (start them indoors in the winter though)
I miss them terribly. Definetely my favorite thing
I am delighted to see so many people who also miss gemmies!!! I buy them at Springbok Foods here on the Gold Coast, Australia (obviously) However, as they are sooo expensive, I would love to grow them from the seeds I retrieve. I always cook them whole after pricking the skin, or they are too watery. I am willing to sacrifice a few but have no idea how to grow them. Anyone have any idea how to and if so, do the seeds store when out of season? I am desperate enough to try anything at this point. I am happy with all things Aussie, but gems are what most South Africans grew up on and fed our babies I think!
Ally
What’s this about pepper? We eat them with butter and cinnamon sugar…(drooling)…now if only I could find some seeds…
Hi Weez
You can buy them in the UK from this supplier http://www.mammothonion.co.uk/shop/5/index.htm they are listed towards the bottom of the page.
Hi I am a South African living in the UK in Bedfordshire and my husband and I are desperate to find the normal gem squash seeds for growing. This is a vegetable that we absolutely LOVE and will do ‘almost’ anything to get hold of these seeds. Please contact me if you have some out there.
Thanks
I’ve been in the UK for 20 years, having grown up in Zimbabwe. I successfully grow gemsquash most years, when the summers are warm. Even my English children love them. I also have a question: Does anyone out there know of a squash variety I used to have as a kid called Maronka, or Moronko (or similar). I know it has a proper name and would love to know what it is so i can track it down.
Hi Barbs
Oh I do hope that they turn out well for you!
I love gem squash with lots of butter and pepper.
I missed the gems from SA too and bought some in the supermarket in NZ. I cut them in half before cooking and scooped out the seeds, they are now planted in big pots. I now have a mass of small plants and they are all growing well. Cant wait to see how they turn out.
Hello to all you ex-South Africans. I really enjoy hearing about where you have all moved to. I have been in the South Eastern USA now for 14 years. Yes, I am looking for gem squash seeds and are not easily found here. I have grown them before and don’t have anymore seed. They do very well here.
They do take up a large area, and I have found that by turning the new growth around itself its a great space saver.