Shark's fin squash-anyone ever heard of it/ grown it?

[Deb P]

A friend of mine has given me a few seeds of a type of squash she grows locally. They are of a Chinese variety known as 'Shark's fin'; which has a green stripy skin like a courgette, with white flesh and black seeds, and grow to the size of a watermelon, from about 5lb in weight plus. The name describes the flesh inside apparently!

Has anyone ever heard of this or grown it before?

[Deb P]

[saddad]

New one on me Deb... Oh and I'll be away all weekend again... up to Leeds this time..
;D

[jo9919]

Bring your thermals with you then, it's been blustery here in Leeds today.

Jo.

[saddad]

I'm tough, I'm going to Pudsey!
;D

[manicscousers]

I'm tough, I'm going to Pudsey!
;D

to see pudsey bear ?   ;D ;D

[jo9919]

Other side of Leeds from me. YES.........it's the home of Pudsey Bear  ;D ;D ;D

Jo.

[Jeannine]

Deb when I lived in Canada I used to buy stuff in China Town in Vancouver,they had what was called a shark fin melon which I have heard folks describe as a winter squash, I think this is what you are describing.I have never grown it but I think if you have enough seeds I would treat one plant as a melon and one as a squash and look after then accordingly. If you finds a source for the seeds I would like to add this one to my collection and if I find any info for you I will get back to you XX Jeannine

[trojanrabbit]

Aha! Found it. There was a thread about something which would seem to fit the description way back in the autumn - including a picture. The conclusion was that one name for them is wintermelons.

http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,91/topic,25595.0

Hope this helps.
Pete

[Deb P]

That sounds exactly right, my friend Lee's description exactly!

Thanks for that Trojanrabbit! ;D

[Deb P]

I found this reference too, looks like it can be used as a vegetable or a fruit! I also saw they were mentioned on GW last night; coincidence eh!? ;D

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cucurbita_ficifolia

[Jeannine]

Hi I have just got you some info from my Chinese friend in Vanciuver, she is sending pictures she found on a chinese web site later,however this is the scoop. Winter melons and wax melons come in several shapes and sizes, the flesh is similar to our winter squash but a bit more bland.

The Sharks fin is not a winter melon. it is large oval to round looks similar to a water melon,has the same mottling on but also has very clear white stripes coming from the start of the menon and forming a star shape. When it is cooked especially if  chunks are popped into thin soup it goes into this translucent bundles rather like transparent glass noodles.

I will try to get the pictures on here as soon a si get them or ask here for the web site they are on.

XX Jeannine

[Jeannine]

I have pictures on my computer now but don't know how to get them onto this message, can someone help me please Thank you Jeannine

[saddad]

I saw that as well Deb, don't think we have any plotholders who are quite that bad... I'd be quite happy to look at Delphinium's but the slugs eat them!
:'(

[Amazin]

Found this on the web. I might give it a go:

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/rickstevens/ohmygourd/Freeseedhome.html

[Yuet_Lee]

they're vegetables not fruit ;)
they can used as make soup,or stir fried or steam!
UK weather are suitable to grow these sorts of squashes or melon ;D
I only have 3 plants last year,and been collected over 60 squashes,each one around 10lbs in weight ;D ;D
I've to use some to feed my hens because I have too many :D

[Deb P]

Thanks for that, perhaps I will only try and grow one of the five seeds I've been given if they are that prolific!!! ;D ;D

[micsmum]

There is a film due for release about a group of refugees living up north who are encouraged to take on allotments as therapy (seen on Gardeners World last Friday). One of the old boys has a go at one of the refugees thinking he is growing illegal substances or Delphiniums! The refugees manages to say in halting English "Shark's Fin Melon"!

[Deb P]

Thought you might like to see was has grown as a result of the Shark's fin squash seeds.....there are about four fruits growing off the one plant and it is rampaging all over my sweetcorn!