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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] Squash blossoms

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  • From: "Beth Spaugh" <lists AT rhomestead.com>
  • To: "'Market Farming'" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Squash blossoms
  • Date: Sun, 17 Jul 2005 13:55:43 -0400

I also am doing squash blossoms for the first time. Thank you for the info.
Couple of questions:

If I take female blossoms, will the fruit not mature more? Is this what
makes limp ends?

First thing in the morning must be really early (chicken loosing time),
because I have cucumber beetles in the blossoms as soon as they open. I have
been picking at night while they are still shut. Anyone else do that?
Advantages/disadvantages and what does the market expect?

Thank you.

Beth Spaugh
Rehoboth Homestead
66 Jabez Allen Road
Peru NY 12972
rhomestead.com

-----Original Message-----
From: market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Adriana
Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2005 10:22 AM
To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [Market-farming] Squash blossoms



Marcy,
I'm doing squash blossoms for the first time this year.

The best (biggest) flowers are from Costata Romanesco Zucchini - I'm
charging $.75 apiece - this is in line with what wholesalers are charging in

my area. A friend in Pennsylvania gets a lot less because Amish growers are

charging as low as $.25 each. When I only have smaller sqaush blossoms
available I'm charging $.50 apiece.

Harvest flowers that are wide open first thing in the morning and put
directly into a cooler with an ice pack in the bottom covered with a towel
or cardboard to avoid chill injury - yes, they are delicate but you will get

used to it. It's a good idea to have a tray of some sort in the cooler so
that you minimize individual handling after harvest. Line up the flowers so

that the stems are all in the same direction - tangled flowers equals
tangled stems. After a couple of hours the flowers get somewhat limp and
you can pack them into clamshells. I get 25 in a 9" x 9" clamshell.

You will not get used to the scratching of the spikes on the stems. Plan on

replacing the plants after about a month of production as they get "spent".
I did not realize that the Romanescos were more vining than bush type
plants. In the future I will trellis them.

Adriana
In hot, hot Alabama

> A customer at the market asked if I could bring squash blossoms. I haven't
> checked any of the post-harvest charts yet, but I'm wondering if anyone
> has
> experience and what kind of treatment/handling you'd recommend. I tried a
> few and they seem pretty delicate and wilt easily. I'm thinking maybe
> they'd
> fit in egg cartons.
> Other packaging ideas?
> Should I keep them cool?
> Pricing?

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