ornamental squash

[mega]

 hi,from mega, this might sound a bit daft, but are ornamental squashes edible,and if not what do you use them for,

[mega]

[Mrs Ava]

Not normally edible, can be bitter or very pithy.  Ornamental, cos you treat them like ornaments.  Leave them on the plants until frost is forecast, then get them in and make sure they are absolutely dry as dry can be!  They should almost seem hollow - then pile them up in a fruit bowl to look pretty, or make a hole in them, pour in split peas, fill in hole, stick on a stick, and hey presto, maracas!  I have seen guords made into bowls, drinking vessels and spoons.  I have never yet managed to get mine dry enough to last more than 6 months as decoration.

[jennym]

Up until last year, I grew the small ornamental gourds that look just like tiny pumpkins. I didn't dry them out or anything, because really I only wanted them to decorate the front for Halloween. The reason I stopped growing them is that it seems that one or two always got lost on the plot, and they end up sprouting everywhere in the summer, like a weed, but I couldn't distinguish between the gourd seedings and squashes, cornichons, courgettes etc and it got to be a pain in the neck.