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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Good question, Jay.
I opened a topic on the forum in response to your comment. Maybe worth checking back there in a day or two.
I am looking to grow my own gem squashes next year, but am a beginner gardener! Need to know the basics!!! What do I need to put in with the seed (fertiliser) etc? Do I need to plant them and grow them in small pots and transplant them? How much space do they need in the garden? What food do they need? When should they be planted? How much sun do they need?
I know there are loads of questions but I really want to get this right I’ve been missing them for years!!
Luckynicky, I’ve seen them for sale in Waitrose sometimes, otherwise, try your local Farmer’s Markets or Borough Market if you can get there.
Please, pleeeeaaaase can anyone tell me where I can buy some in London or Surrey area. We normally grow our own but couldn’t plant it this year… I am getting withdrawal symptoms… lol
Hi Everyone,
I’m an ex-S.African living in Israel.I miss gem squash so much! Every year I visit my family there and decide i MUST try grow them at home yet it never happens:( This year I am determined, I have just returned from a trip and brought with me dried seeds that i scooped oput of a gem squash there. Problem is I`m a CLUELESS gardener! I have no idea where to even start. I have a yard but it`s mostly dry clay-like sand – so presumably big potstroughs would be best? Please some kind soul advise me with ABC`s – WhereIn what to plant, do I need compostfertilisersoil, how deep and wide, sunshade , what season,how much watering, how long they take to grow…HELP!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Can you tell me what nutrition is is a gem squash and if possible garden pease.
Thank you
Jamie
Hi there
I live in Surrey, uk. Last spring I was given one gem squash plant by a friend. I had no idea how to look after the plant so I just popped the plant into the ground in amongst my herbs and left it to do its thing on its own. The plant took off fantastically with no help, feeding etc and by the end of summer I managed to harvest 10 gems. Brilliant, my kids and my English boyfriend loved them. I’m going to order some seeds off the web this year and give it a bash growing them from scratch.
Hi there from Sunny South Africa!
I found your blog because, even as a SAfrican I had no idea how to cook gems. Reason: Yuk. I am, however, growing them and am LOVING the satisfaction of giving them to others, who adore them.
I have a dinner party tonight and have decided to cook gems as a side-dish to roasted chicken. Hopefully they are a hit!
Although I do wish that I’d read through the comments first – there are recipe’s here that are tempting even me!
@Steve (UK) – How exactly does black plastic keep slugs away? I have a serious problem with them munching most of my veggies. 🙁
Awesome blog!
Also having being born and bred in Rhodesia, I have lived in the UK for 21 years. I can’t do withoug my gemsquash so have been sucessfully growing them every summer for years. One veg the slugs don’t touch! I’ve had no luck with pumpkin though, sadly. Just not hot enough I guess. I’d like to know if anyone has successfully grown white pumpkin or a similar dry, sweet variety.
So pleased to have found this site – thank you all for such wonderful tips on growing Gems! Born and bred in Rhodesia and 18 years in SA we took Gems for granted! Now after 12 years in UK am suffering sever symptoms of Gem deprivation. Am going to attempt growing Gems and White Pumkin having read this site. Thanks again, to you all!!