Has anyone tried Tahitian squash or grown it. It is supposed to be able to be eaten raw. If so, what does it taste like at that stage? How many does one plant produce?
Tahitian Squash
The Ventura County grower responsible for this beautiful winter squash calls it TAHITIAN SQUASH. This big, beautiful variety weighs around 20 pounds, and has a gorgeous orange flesh; rich, sweet flavor; and smooth texture once cooked. Due to the high solids in this variety, once cooked TAHITIAN SQUASH loses very little weight to water and holds its shape well. Good partners for winter squash include olive oil, butter, brown butter, sunflower seed oil, fontina, Gruyere, pecorino Romano, Parmesan, sage, rosemary, garlic, red pepper flakes, chili, cumin coriander, brown sugar, coconut milk, ginger, lime, lemongrass, curry, onions, radicchio, apple, and quince.
Tahitian squash
There is a giant butternut named Tahitian: http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/92810/index.html. Have never grown it.
I have grown it. It was a good producer for me. The squash is a really large one . they do resemble the butternut in that they have the seed bowl on the end of a long neck. I would not go to say it would be a great taste raw but with some salad oils,every body has different tastes. but it was one of the best tasting squash we have raised. The only problem for us is one is enough for a family of 6. So we would have to be ready to blanch and freeze some when we brought one in. I shared some with a co-worker He said that that was the best tasting squash ever. We had three plants, we harvested firteen huge squash before the frost hit. and they had a late start. so I am going to give them a high producer mark. There were at least 10 or 12 that were not mature enough when the frost took the vines. They do like to sprawl out.
I did want to grow it the following year but wasn't lucky enough to find a supplyer. Didn't have a computer then either.
randb- are they not good eaten when they are in the immature stage? Do they need to ripen before you harvest them? Just wondering if one needs to harvest them when they are big enough to feed a family of 6 or if they can be harvested younger and smaller?
The butternut types are all purpose squash. Lots of folks use them when immature as summer squash. But if you want to use them as a winter squash, they have to be full grown. The in between stage is not good for either.
Yes they could have been eaten as a imature squash, however storage space was limited and they couldn't all be eaten at one or two meals. Just as many tomatos go to waste. So will some squash.