Celebrate Halloween with these home-grown stars
Autumn and Halloween, in particular, are the time for the best pumpkins and squashes (and their cousins, the gourds) to shine. Here are seven picked out by Mr Fothergill’s.
As the firm’s Kentford trials ground is closing down for the season, Martina, Mr Fothergill’s assistant trials manager, has gathered in the harvest to create an amazing display that shows just what fascinating and varied fruits these are.
The trials include new lines as well as existing ones. These current Mr Fothergill’s varieties can be seen among Martina’s colourful display. Read more in my comprehensive guide on pumpkins and squashes, including categories on size, weight, colour and knobbly skin. Also, check out the best scary plants for Halloween!
The best pumpkins and squashes – giants to decorative
- Large: Atlantic Giant – the biggest fruit and the best seller.
- Medium: Racer F1 and Charmant F1, a more manageable size, ideal for carving and culinary use.
- Small: Small Sugar and Rouge vif d’Etampes. These mini fruits are high in sugars with dense flesh, making them ideal for cooking.
Go for flavour, not size
Squashes: teardrop-shaped Uchiki Kuri and the green-skinned Honey Bear F1. Both have sweet, nutty orange flesh, best roasted with a little olive oil. For pure decoration, there are also gourds (non-edible), in a wide range of weird and wonderful shapes and colours.
Read more about Mr Fothergill’s RHS Chelsea Garden Product of the Year 2018 winner.
For more inspiration and ideas, current prices and availability, visit www.mr-fothergills.co.uk.
