Topic: foul smelling squash

[gwynnethmary]

 I accidentally harvested two big ones (red warty thing) the other day and put them in the conservatory, still attached to the vine, and OH condemned them to the greenhouse as they stunk the place out.  It was a smell like manure.  Can anyone suggest  why please?

[ed dibbles]

Sorry to be the harbinger of potentially bad news but that smell is probably of them beginning to rot. Try pressing the skin hard to see if there are any soft areas or cut one open to have a look inside.

Sometimes if you catch them early enough you can cut out the bad bits, give the rest a wash and use them immediately.

It has been a wet year and they could have taken in far to much moisture.

[antipodes]

Funny thing is, when they rot they usually smell sickly sweet....
Look for soft or dark patches on the skin, as signs of rot.