Thursday, September 29, 2011
Still a Mystery Squash
Last month, I blogged about a mystery squash that was growing in the garden. At first I thought it was a watermelon, because the rind was pretty tough like a watermelon. But in further investigation it didn't look like an ordinary watermelon. It was from a volunteer plant and it looked like nothing I've ever grown before. I assumed it came from my dad's compost, but he also said it wasn't anything he's grown or eaten. So where did the seeds come from? He said that it might be from a bird or squirrel. I decided to harvest the squash because it was a good size and didn't know if it would get any bigger.
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I brought the squash to my parent's house because I know they would know how to cook it. I very rarely eat squash.
Inside the squash, it looks like a cucumber or zucchini, however, the skin is quite tough. The seeds are large like pumpkin seeds. The flesh though is very firm, similar to a winter melon. The flavor is very bland, almost flavorless. Anyone have any idea what type of squash this is?
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Try this link: Italian striped summer squash It might be what you have, one that has overgrown, and developed a hard rind like zucchini does when not harvested young.
ReplyDeletewow, I love finding mystery food LOL! It does look like a cucumber, but if one grew that big it certainly wouldn't have that rich colored outside still! Maybe a freakish zucchini? Hopefully someone will know...
ReplyDeleteGiant zuchinni. Mine get like that when I forget about them. Scoop out the seeds and use it.
ReplyDeletedid you make a hybrid-super squash? ahahaha! yum! chinese soup!
ReplyDeleteI might be way off here, but I'm wondering if it might have come from a hybrid squash that someone grew or purchased at one time. The seed could have made its way into your garden and grew, but being a hybrid, it wouldn't have grown true to type?? Maybe?
ReplyDeleteSquash are notorious cross pollinators. Could it be a summer squash that crossed with some sort of gourd or a delicata squash? Those bold stripes look like delicata or gourd to me.
ReplyDeleteGood luck.
Judy
Definitely an Italian zucchini, sometimes called a zucchette. Now grown to marrow size.
ReplyDeleteWhat did it taste like?
Thanks all for all the great guesses! The squash tasted like a very very mild zucchini. Very little taste, kinda bland in fact. The inside was firmer and crunchier than a zucchini though.
ReplyDeleteI can't tell you what it is but it sure looks pretty.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely an overgrown zucchini. I hope you roasted the seeds with sea salt and olive oil!
ReplyDeleteAs fullfreezer said, it looks like you've got an accidental hybrid. Cucumbers, watermelons, and zucchini are all members of the family Cucurbitaceae, and all of them can cross-pollinate. The cross usually makes for fruit that is totally fun to watch grow, but is of little or no culinary value.
ReplyDelete