Gem Squash Vine - Hybrid Star 8001

Hybrid Squash Star 8001 (Starke Ayres)

Planted on 2019-03-16 (6 years ago)

This plant was terminated.

Reason: died

2019-03-16 (6 years ago)

Planted this today on the south side of the Jaboticaba tree.

2019-03-16 (6 years ago)

These are the Gem Squash bush/vine seeds that I planted today at the base of the Jaboticaba tree. On the left (north) are the bush seeds and on the right (south) are the vine seeds. What I found super interesting about these seeds is that it looks like they have been colored with food dye. The bush seeds are colored pink and the vine seeds a cyan/green color. I assume that this is to help us identify the seeds if we accidentally drop them or mix them with some other seeds. Clever idea.

This note applies to a total of 2 plants.
...and then after 12 days
2019-03-28 (6 years ago)

Both the Gem Squash Vine and Bush are pushing through the mulch. This image is from the vine. They both look identical at this stage.

This note applies to a total of 2 plants.
...and then after 15 days
2019-04-12 (6 years ago)

Good progress on the gem squash. This image shows both the vines and the bushes which are currently indistinguishable.

This note applies to a total of 2 plants.
...and then after 12 days
2019-04-24 (5 years ago)

No sign of any flowers on these vines and bushes but they are growing well.

This note applies to a total of 2 plants.
...and then after 4 days
2019-04-28 (5 years ago)

The shade cloth went up in the subtropical area today so all the plants tagged in this note are now getting around 25% of the sunlight they were getting before.

This note applies to a total of 7 plants.
...and then after 3 days
2019-05-01 (5 years ago)

Gems are growing insanely fast and looking super healthy but still no sign of fruit or flowers.

This note applies to a total of 2 plants.
...and then after 3 days
2019-05-04 (5 years ago)

First sign of blossoms on the Gems.

Metrics:
  • First Blossom: ✔
This note applies to a total of 2 plants.
...and then after 4 days
2019-05-08 (5 years ago)

Compared to the last time we tried to grow these they seem to be on steroids. I'm wondering if it's the sulfur that's helping them.

This note applies to a total of 2 plants.
...and then after 6 days
2019-05-14 (5 years ago)

The gems have almost completely covered the Jabotica they were growing around.

This note applies to a total of 2 plants.
...and then after 5 days
2019-05-19 (5 years ago)

Ping pong ball sized fruit now being seen.

This note applies to a total of 2 plants.
...and then after 11 days
2019-05-30 (5 years ago)

Found a couple like this. About half the size they need to be.

This note applies to a total of 2 plants.
...and then after 8 days
2019-06-07 (5 years ago)

Our first harvest of gems. Cooked them in a pressure cooker for 20 minutes. The second image is after 10 minutes in the pressure cooker and it wasn't quite done by then. The third image is after 20 minutes with the seeds scooped out and butter in the middle. It was delicious. This is 83 days since they were planted.

Metrics:
  • Harvest Count: 6
  • Harvest Start: ✔
...and then after 2 days
2019-06-09 (5 years ago)

Harvested another. This one's for you Lauren!

The image of the 2 cooked gems with butter is from dinner this evening. Those 2 gems were picked two days ago. I rarely set my expectation/hopes high for something like this and even with high expectations they were still exceeded by the amazing taste of these vegetables.

Metrics:
  • Harvest Count: 1
...and then after 4 days
2019-06-13 (5 years ago)

Picked another 7 today and ate some of them this evening. Did not disappoint. Delicious.

The second image shows one of the gems that's a different color. I think that this is Gemini F1 Hybrid (bush habit) and the others are from the Star 8001 (vine).

Metrics:
  • Harvest Count: 7
This note applies to a total of 2 plants.
...and then after 3 days
2019-06-16 (5 years ago)

Found another 4 that were ready. Scooped the seeds out of three of them before cooking with dinner.

Metrics:
  • Harvest Count: 4
This note applies to a total of 2 plants.
...and then after 2 days
2019-06-18 (5 years ago)
Metrics:
  • Harvest Count: 3
This note applies to a total of 2 plants.
...and then after 25 days
2019-07-13 (5 years ago)

After three weeks of being away many of these gems have ripened. When cutting them open they are more yellow inside than the pale yellow/green they were before. They taste just as good. I collected the seeds from the three large yellow ones that I cut open today. I think that these are going to be the most viable of the seeds I've collected so far.

Metrics:
  • Harvest Count: 13
This note applies to a total of 2 plants.
...and then after 3 days
2019-07-16 (5 years ago)

Found a couple more today. This is one of them.

Metrics:
  • Harvest Count: 2
This note applies to a total of 2 plants.
...and then after 4 days
2019-07-20 (5 years ago)

Found three more gems while working in that area today.

Metrics:
  • Harvest Count: 3
This note applies to a total of 2 plants.
...and then after 2 days
2019-07-22 (5 years ago)

Found another

Metrics:
  • Harvest Count: 1
This note applies to a total of 2 plants.

Harvest Summary

StartEndDaysEst. Total CountEst. Total WeightAverage Weight
2019-06-07* still harvesting *195640

* If weights or counts are missing then estimates are based on metrics that are collected when both of these are present. If both weight and count is always recorded then the estimates are actual values even though the title says estimate.

** In seasons where weight or count was not collected then the averages from all other seasons will be used to estimate these figures. In those cases there will not be an Average Weight.

Blossom Summary

StartEndDays
2019-05-04