Squash/pumpkin ID please!

[Grandma]

This appeared in my daughter's veg patch. As she uses home-made compost, we thought at first it might be a seed from the Hallowe'en pumpkin she carved out last year - but it's definitely not that.

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They look like melons to me - but what do I know!!

[Grandma]

[ceres]

Moved.

[Grandma]

Thank you, Ceres!   :-* Will try to remember to put my thinking head on before I next post!

[Alex133]

I think it might be Crown Prince. They grow very large, keep for ages (I've had one last until March), taste good but are tough to cut up.

[Jeannine]

Describe the stalk shape where it attaches to the fruit, I can narrow it down a bit for you.

XX Jeannine

[Grandma]

Thanks, Alex. x

And thanks, Jeannine. My daughter's on holiday at the moment and I'm on watering duty. When I go to her home next - (probably Wednesday) - I'll have a look at the stalk shape and get back to you on here. xxx

[galina]

I think it might be Crown Prince. They grow very large, keep for ages (I've had one last until March), taste good but are tough to cut up.

Could be a crown prince.  It is definitely a cucurbita maxima squash looking at the stem end by the fruit (wide, a bit corky looking) and the large soft hairy leaves.  Even if it is a compost bin cross, this one looks good to keep.  Harvest as late as possible.

I found this picture with google's help of an underripe crown prince which shows the blossom end of the fruit to help with identification.

http://tinyurl.com/426owbk

[Grandma]

Thanks, galina - your picture certainly looks exactly like it.

I'll have a close look at the stem and blossom end tomorrow and get back with details.

Thanks again.  :)

[Grandma]

Hello Alex, Galina and Jeannette,

Have taken some more pics today which I hope will help with ID.

Stem of fruit

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Blossom end

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Surface of leaf


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Quite prickly - and the leaf and flower stalks are too. Hope this helps! Thank you.

[Grandma]

Bump!

[Grandma]

Bump again!

[Grandma]

And again!

[galina]

Hello Alex, Galina and Jeannette,

Have taken some more pics today which I hope will help with ID.

It does look like Crown Prince or a close relative and your photos confirm it.  Wonder what Jeannine will say when she sees them.  Definitely a winter squash for storing and not a melon.

Hope you get your just rewards for watering duties (ripe tomatoes etc).  We have had a substantial amount of rain here this morning and we really needed it too.  Very soggy outside.

[Dandytown]

I can not see the picture but on the mention of crown prince I thought I would offer this link that I cme accross the other day. 

Its a scaled down version of Crown prince

[Grandma]

Thanks, Galina - the more I look at it the more it looks like your Crown Prince. As you say, it will be interesting to see what Jeannine makes of it but I'll be surprised if she finds a better match. How big do they grow? There are at least a dozen on the plant - the family could be eating squash forever!

Yes, very welcome rain but darling daughter's veg are in very free-draining, raised beds - (and she has thirty-odd containers and hanging baskets of flowers) - so watering never really stops.

No tomatoes - (I give her family mine!) - but lots of lovely climbing French beans and courgettes for me!  :)

[Jeannine]

Totally agree about the species from the stem picture.. amazing that you have so many on one plant, that is very unusual. Yep could well be Crown Prince  unless the colour starts to change..

XX Jeannine

[Grandma]

Thank you, Jeannine  :) It will be lovely to be able to give my daughter a name for her monster! (I'll probably be back later - on her behalf - asking for recipes for using them.  ;D)

Thanks again. Take care. xxx