Georgia Candy Roasters, the Only Squash you Need!

[@jesusislord7488]

I’m sold. Just ordered some! ❤

[@theroaminghomesteaders]

Hope you enjoy! They are great squashes. :)

[@bellamonet19]

Just found one of these beauties for sale at a farm nearby,thank you for sharing !

[@theroaminghomesteaders]

That's exciting to hear! Not many people grow these anymore. :( Save the seeds and plant your own next year! :)

[@paulinehignett6557]

Thank you. Those skins and goop from the seeds,the chickens will love. Very good for them.

[@theroaminghomesteaders]

Glad to help! Enjoy your candy roasters. :)

[@stacylandis9806]

1st year grower of candy roasters. I am I 7B with limited daylight hours and they grew better than any other squash. It will be a permanent fixture in my garden.

[@theroaminghomesteaders]

Really glad to hear! We think they are amazing. Thanks for watching and enjoy your candy roasters! :)

[@kathleenstetler609]

thank you for your comment

[@FoodbyFaith]

Great info. New Subscriber. I am growing candy roaster this year in the garden. I am in zone 8a Ga.

[@theroaminghomesteaders]

Glad you liked our video! We love pumpkins and squashes, especially candy roasters, and we think everyone should grow and enjoy them. We're in USDA 9B. Thanks for watching! :)

[@danielle2451]

Great video. I'm excited to try them out this year

[@theroaminghomesteaders]

Thanks for watching! Enjoy gardening! :)

[@teresecox4109]

I bought seeds for this and look forward to growing it next season! Thanks for the great video!

[@theroaminghomesteaders]

Glad to hear! Hope you enjoy them!

[@OldSchoolPrepper]

This looks awesome, i'm going to look at some seed companies and see if it will grow for me in 8B (Oregon)

[@theroaminghomesteaders]

It should grow for you there if you get it started early indoors and out into the ground by June 1st or so. Enjoy, and thanks for watching! :)

[@ceepark114]

I also am in 8b zone and started seeds indoors about 4 weeks before growing outdoors and my one plant is growing great with lots of squash on that one plant. A vigorous grower that sprawls out.

[@evettewagner8576]

This is my first season growing so im excited. Thanks for giving cooking and storage tips. My question is how to prune. The vines have gown from my backyard garden about to enter the front yard. Can i prune the tip off?

[@theroaminghomesteaders]

Yes, once the vine has grown long enough to set fruit, you can prune the tip to keep the energy of the plant going toward maturing the squashes. Have fun!

[@marcucciofoster]

I should have known these wonderful people were followers of Christ. A friend recently gave me three types of squash: acorn, spaghetti, and Blue Hubbard. I never bought any of these before. The Italians in my neighborhood would grow what they called "cucuzze" in their voluptuous backyard gardens, but I was always intimidated by how to cook them. Now I know how. Thank you!

[@theroaminghomesteaders]

Glad to be of help! Lord bless! :)

[@phillippinter7518]

How long does it store in your experience? Have You ever kept one until it was at or near the end of its shelf life? If so how long was it stored, and how was it stored? Thanks

[@theroaminghomesteaders]

We kept them in our garage in 35-120 degree temperatures for over 14 months. They are amazing keepers when you cure them and store them out of the sunlight in a dark place.

[@JoshARiley]

Cooking squash this morning. Thanks for the info. Who is the musician as your husband processes the seeds?

[@theroaminghomesteaders]

Sadly, some stock music we lost in a recent hard drive crash. Now, we use music from Epidemic Sound. Enjoy your squash cooking!

[@renamed304]

Growing north GA candy roasters cause I heard they make better pies than pumkin, we’ll see!

[@theroaminghomesteaders]

They do! They're a bit richer and sweeter than pumpkin. Enjoy!

[@jthepickle7]

MARINA DE CHIOGGIA - the best squash I've ever tasted! Let's go head to head. In fact, I'm putting one in the oven right now. (thanks for making me hungry for squash) There, done - oven is on and seeds are saved. (this squash is an heirloom) 45 minutes in a 400* oven. Looking forward to one rich and tasty winter squash. TTYL

[@theroaminghomesteaders]

It's one of the top varieties listed in my pumpkins video! I'm looking forward to growing it next year!

[@jthepickle7]

@@theroaminghomesteaders Growing next to the cucumbers I found them hanging around on the same trellises! This saved them from voracious rabbits. Seems they trellis very well.

[@Mrs.Chaos82]

I had vine borers attacking mine so badly this year.

[@theroaminghomesteaders]

I'm so sorry to hear that. :( We don't usually get them here. Keep trying though! They are worth it!

[@Jerseyhighlander]

Have never seen such a winter squash before, probably because I'm up north where we have an actual winter. Wonder how they'd do in the colder climate/short season? Up here the age old stand by is the Long Island Cheese Pumpkin and a favorite way to use them is in making Pumpkin Bread. I'll bet yours would do well for that also.

[@theroaminghomesteaders]

I've seen them grown in higher mountain elevations in North Carolina, so I think they would do well just about anywhere if you had 90-120 days of growing season, including early starts in a greenhouse. We use these for "pumpkin" bread and really enjoy them. Good luck, and thanks for watching! :)

[@archietheproto7706]

Winter squash love that climate

[@maranscandy9350]

How does it compare to Sibley squash, Gete Okosamin squash, Cushaw, and Blue Himalayan?

[@theroaminghomesteaders]

It's similar but sweeter than Gete Okosamin, not as hard as Cushaws. I'm not familiar with Blue Himalayan.

[@dawngrimmius4971]

Are these also called banana squash? Can you can a banana squash the same as like butternut squash?

[@theroaminghomesteaders]

Banana squash are different but also winter squash. I haven't ever scanned squash though, but you can use it the same as other squashes to cook fresh. Thanks for watching! :)

[@ceepark114]

I trained my plant to grow along a fence but didn’t realize that the squash would get so big that they are breaking off the vine! Can you use the squash before you cure them? Or aren’t the sugars developed enough?

[@theroaminghomesteaders]

You should cradle them with slings made from old pantyhose or cloth strips. You want to try and grow them as long as possible to ripen them too. Good luck, and thanks for watching! :)

[@cindy-ki8ex]

Your family looks like mine when I was growing up 4 girls with a boy in the middle. I wonder if we have a long enough growing season for these in Minnesota I am zone 3b. I have seen them anywhere bit would like to try.

[@theroaminghomesteaders]

I think they would grow well if you started them indoors and got them in ground the minute the soil warmed to 70 degrees+, maybe late May, early June.

[@ashleycote1068]

Yep! I grow them in 3b

[@allisonwalker2453]

Sweet thank you 😊 How long do they last after you’ve processed them?

[@theroaminghomesteaders]

A week or so in the fridge; indefinitely in the freezer.

[@lynnlovessoil]

Do the squash bugs or squash vine borer attack this squash plant?

[@theroaminghomesteaders]

I didn't notice either when we grew them here in California last year. This year, we had squash bugs but not vine borers on our pumpkins, but we didn't grow Candy Roasters. Next year, we're planning on Candy Roasters at another local garden site.

[@driverguy7]

I suspect that someone cross pollinated Gete okosomin with butternut squash and this Georgia Candy Roaster is the result. Thanks for this video !!

[@theroaminghomesteaders]

Yes, Gete Okosomin is very similar in size and shape. It would be interesting if someone ran some genetic testing to see if there is a relationship. Either way, they are two great heirloom varieties to preserve. Thanks for watching! :)

[@archietheproto7706]

Those two varieties aren't really compatible for crossing, cucurbita maxima and moschata. My understanding is that this squash is related to pink banana squash

[@spoolsandbobbins]

Can u tell us about the curing process? Do they need warmth cuz here in Nova Scotia the season is short!

[@theroaminghomesteaders]

I don't think they need much warmth, though putting them under a plastic row cover in a climate like yours probably wouldn't hurt. I know they are grown successfully in the mountains of North Carolina with great success. Thanks for watch, and good luck! :)

[@ilg212]

Awesome video! I am growing 5 of these right now and so I guess I should expect a LOT of squashes. How do you prep them for curing or storing? Do you wash with soap or do anything specific to them? Thanks in advance!

[@theroaminghomesteaders]

We just washed them off with water and a bit of bleach and then cured them in the garage for a few days.

[@janewebb3477]

All my pumpkin pies are made from buttercup squash, no one knows the difference these sound good.

[@theroaminghomesteaders]

All sorts of squashes make great pies! Candy Roasters are a bit sweeter to start and require less sugar.

[@lannguyen-pu1db]

Do they take less time than other squashes to grow? For how long can you store them at room temperature?

[@theroaminghomesteaders]

About the same time, 90-110 days. They last 8-12 months.

[@brendashelton6972]

Would you consider selling a few of those seeds? I have never planted this variety. Was wondering if it would grow in Northeast Arkansas, zone 7a.

[@theroaminghomesteaders]

It would be cheaper and quicker for you to buy them directly from Baker Creek online here: www.rareseeds.com/squash-winter-candy-roaster-north-georgia We got ours from them several years ago. Enjoy, and thanks for watching! :)

[@vallariesereno3160]

Looks like a pink banana squash

[@theroaminghomesteaders]

Pink banana is another great one!

[@sunshinedayz2172]

Whereto I order them?

[@theroaminghomesteaders]

Baker Creek is a good source. It's where we bought our seeds from in 2019: www.rareseeds.com/squash-winter-candy-roaster-north-georgia

[@lululu5815]

maybe try to steam the squash next time

[@theroaminghomesteaders]

You could try that. We prefer roasting, because it's easier for us. Thanks for the idea though, and thanks for watching! :)

[@dirtfarmer4885]

Looks like a banana squash

[@theroaminghomesteaders]

Very similar! Happy growing, and thanks for watching!