Squash/Pumpkin ID - Jeannine or anyone?

[ceres]

I have a lovely Thai plot neighbour who keeps giving me weird and wonderful seeds and seedlings.  I got from her either seeds or a plant that I think she said was courgette, I'm sure I would have remembered if it was something I don't usually grow.  I planted it with the courgettes and this is what it has grown into.  I accidentally broke it off trying to get some straw under it (fortunately, there are more!).  What is it and will it ripen further?

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[ceres]

[Mrs Ava]

I think it might be Crown Prince.

[thegreatgardener]

looks like hungarian or lumina

[kt.]

There is a white variety called Ghost but I have not seen one.  (Pumpkin not the ghost ;D)

[nastybritishgardener]

ceres crack it open so we can see the seed cavity. Also would mind  taking better picture of the stalk. Without good  picture of both even an expert could not identify that white blob. If it is not to inconvenient   the weight and centimeter stick   in the picture might also help.

[two sheds]

another vote for crown prince, I grow it every year its my favourite...

[ceres]

Thanks EJ, KT and 2S.  Two votes for Crown Prince and 1 for Ghost - anyone else? 

[Jeannine]

What was the plant like. eg was it a bush or did it trail where the leaves prickly  or hairy and what shape is the stem, eg five sided. I can place it in a family with this info. Also how big.

XX Jeannine

Did the Thai lady import from home.  There are  lots of Thai squash and pumpkins I have several.

[ceres]

Thanks Jeannine.  It's definitely a huge trailer, will check the other details tomorrow.

[ceres]

Vital statistics:

It's a huge trailer, longest stem is around 30ft long.  Others are not much shorter.

I can feel 5 ridges around the stem so 5-sided?

The leaves feel soft and felted to the touch so I'd say hairy, although there are a few slightly stiffer hairs on the veins on the underside of the leaves and the stems.  They are not evil like the ones on my courgettes though!  The bigger leaves are 12"+ across.

I asked my neighbour where it came from and she didn't know.  She's not growing it this year and wasn't sure if she had grown it before.  So it could have come from anywhere.  I suspect her seed labelling is a bit suspect.  Her system involves scrunched up leaves, scraps of paper, flower pots etc!

[ceres]

With all the rain we've had today, it's probably 40ft now!

[Jeannine]

Sorry folks it is not a Crown Prince,Lumina or Hungarian they belong to  the  maxima family and this one is from the pepo family. This family is very big and includes all the summer squash and all of the TRUE pumpkins wether bush or vining.

What size and approx weight is the fruit, that might get me a bit closer.

XX Jeannine

[ceres]

Thanks for getting me a bit closer Jeannine!  I measured it today - it's 26" around the middle, if you look at it straight on it's about 8" side to side and 4.5 " high.  I couldn't bring it home to weigh (no room left on the bike!) but I estimate it to weigh around 3kg.  As I said earlier, I broke it off accidentally so it might not be fully grown.  Does this help? 

[ceres]

Small correction - just weighed it and it's 2.5kg.  Not a bad estimate though!

[ceres]

I think the fruits left on the plant are starting to overtake the one I broke off and they look to me like they're getting whiter, if that's possible?

[Jeannine]

Yes it is, I am thinking it is going to be a pumpkin, colour will be either white, cream or pale yellow, There are a few flat white ones from that family but hard to get in the UK, so she might hav given you something from home. It could be a very oversized Pattison  white summer squah, you would lose some of the fluting if it gets huge. XX Jeannine

[ceres]

Thanks Jeannine!  I think I'll go with pumpkin.  They are still getting bigger and definitely ripening to white.  I looked up Pattisons but they don't seem to quite fit that.  They haven't really had strong flutes at any size and don't seem to be quite flat enough.  My plot neighbour hasn't been around for a couple of weeks but when I next see her I'll be sure to grill her and see if I can get more info.  Thanks again for sharing your knowledge!

[betula]

Ceres,may I use your thread to ask Jeannine a question.?

Jeannine,my Turks turban has now turned Orange,will it carry on growing now?The foliage is still healthy.Thanks :)

[ceres]

Of course!  Hopefully Jeannine will be around soon and see it.  I'll be interested in the answer too - my butternuts look ripe but, like yours, the foliage is still going strong.

[Jeannine]

If they are going strong, keep an eye open for first frosts but leave them on the plant,Ideally they should stay there till the foliage dies off and then if we have the right weather,,that is, warm and dry, they will cure in the field..hardly happens here but I have had a pear tree burst into blossom today so nothing would surprise me.

XX Jeannine