What in the World is THIS?

[Featherbaby]

This vine came up as a volunteer in my flower bed. Foolishly I let it grow just to satisfy my curiosity....I knew it must be a squash of some kind because the yellow blooms, vining and hostile takeover of my flowers with it's 4-6" growth per day. I put it up on a pvc arched 'trellis' not knowing that the fruit would grow to 5-7 pounds each! As you might have guessed,the trellis collapsed and I had to spend more money and time getting it fortified. I had to cut 13 of these monsters off just to lift the trellis back into place. I cut it open to show the insides. It's not a spagetti squash nor a zuchinni on sterioids. What in the name of mutant science is this thing? and secondly, what do I do with it? The chickens like it. After all the work and expense to save it, I would like to cook and eat it but have no clue how to fix it.

HELP!!!!!

 

[Carol Dee]

I am no help, it sure looks like some oddly shapped zuchinni. I will check back to see if anyone was able to identify it.

 

[digitS']

I will bet you a dime to a doughnut, it is a cross between a pumpkin and a zucchini.

They are both from the same family. They are both Cucurbita pepo (click). Wikipedia shouldn't say "Some Pumpkins." Really, all Jack o' Lantern pumpkins are Cucurbita pepo. Zucchini and pumpkins are frequently grown in American gardens and they readily cross.

It is risky business to save a squash volunteer. My neighbor and I shared the same Tractor Guy who tilled the gardens for years. The neighbor allowed volunteer squash to grow one year - then left them in the garden.


I had his volunteers all over my garden! Unfortunately, they were in my own squash and pumpkin patches and it took me awhile to ID a few of the plants.

Just be happy that the chickens like them, Featherbaby. Chickens really do like the Cucurbita family a good deal. As far as how you might cook them - I haven't an idea for you there.

Steve

 

[Ridgerunner]

Yes, some kind of cross. How hard is the flesh? Soft like zucchini or hard like a winter squash? if it is kind of hard, I'd suggest coooking it like a winter squash. If it is sort of soft, maybe steam it and see what it is like.

Here area couple of what I got from some mysterious cross. One parent was a Delicata. I know that because those are the seeds I saved. I think the big yellow one crossed with a straight necked summer squash. I have no idea what the other one crossed with. I treated them like a winter squash and they were actually very good. Did not store worth a darn though. That is a chair seat they are on.

 

[Dace]

I agree with Ridgerunner about the cooking. If they are really firm like a winter squash, cube them up, toss with olive oil and salt and pepper then roast in a hot oven.
If they are more soft fleshed, try a sautee with some garlic and herbs, then top with some freshly grated parm.

 

[patandchickens]

Yup, another vote for a "squumpkin" so to speak (i.e. a cross).

You can TRY cooking and eating it, but usually they are more to chickens' tastes than to peoples'. OTOH there is certainly variation, both in "squumpkins" and in peoples' tastes, so sure, give it a whirl if you are feeling experimental. You might slice off a small piece and steam or microwave it til tender so you can taste it before investing more energy in preparing a larger quantity. The chickens won't care if you give it to them raw or cooked

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[wifezilla]

Like the others said, the texture (hard or soft) would determine how I cooked it. Try one. If you hate it, remember those chickens. I am sure they would love to take it off your hands. ;D

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'll mention that the chickens get a lot of mine, and all the seeds. The seeds are a natural wormer for the chickens. It is not that the seeds kill the worms and the strength of the seeds depends on the variety of squash, pumpkin, cucumber, whatever member of the family you have. I understand the way it works is that the seeds have a chemical that paralyzes the worms so they lose their grip in the intestines and some of the worms get "eliminated" from their system.

Chickens, like many animals, can tolerate a light worm load without real bad results. It is when the number of worms gets high that they experience serious problems. These seeds will not get rid of all the worms, but they can help keep the worm load manageable until you get around to worming them. I just dislike using any medication more than I have to and these seeds are an organic way to help keep the problem under control.

 

[journey11]

Members of the squash family cross VERY easily. Could be from the seeds of something store-bought you composted, if not from your own garden. I let one go one year that came up in my compost pile, just for the heck of it, just for fun. It was a weird spaghetti squash/zucchini club of a thing. I tried cooking it. It wasn't worth eating! The chickens enjoyed the seeds though.

 

[Featherbaby]

Well, what a strange cross! They are firm fleshed but not hard like a winter squash. They cut pretty easily with a knife. I think these are not ripe, however and may get softer if I let them mature. Lord only knows how big they get before they're ripe! One of them is lying on the ground and I'm going to let it grow until it's 'done'.

Why do you think I got some white ones alongside the green striped ones? As near as I can see, they're from the same vine although there are three plants all tangled together but their leaves and blooms look identical.

The chickens seem to like them and the worming effect is a bonus. I quarter them and feed it raw. They have no problem eating it all the way to the rind. Only problem is, I have WAAAAY more squumpkins than chickens to eat them! HA! I am going to try cooking them like several of you suggested and see if they are fit to eat.

I am guessing the seeds came in with bags of composted cow manure and peat humus. I mulch with pine shavings from the coops that have some scratch grains overlooked by the hens. There are no squash seeds in that mixture, however.

Thanks so much for the help....if anyone else has ever seen something like this, please tell me.