How do you know when they're ripe?
Can they get over-ripe?
I've got loads of different varieties (none of them orange pumpkins - I know how to guage them), and suddenly realised I could be eating them, but just don't know if they're ready yet.
Help! (please :))
I'm pretty sure that you can eat squash before they're ripe. But if you want to store them, then you're best leaving them on the plant as long as possible. The skin will usually change colour (not sure if this is true of them all) and become hardened. The longer you can leave them the better they will store :-) I usually leave mine to ripen on the plant as long as possible but I've had to pick a few early as I have a rat who has taken a liking to taking the occasional nibble. I've managed to ripen a few of these by placing them in a window that gets a lot of sun. I did eat one of my unripe 'trombolino' squashes the other week and it was ok, although I don't know how it compares to ripe ones as it's the first time I've grown them.
Well I bought a packet of 'mixed variety' squash , and was thrilled to see loads of fruit forming. I asked the old fella when they were ripe and he reckons that they are ornamental and no good to eat. :o
Needless to say,I am gutted!!
Don't give up yet squirrel - if you bought 'mixed squash', they should be edible ??? Inedible cucurbits are usually labelled 'gourds, ornamental'. Your old fella may be right, if he's familiar with the squash family :'( But if he's at all unfamiliar with the thousands of edible species, you may have edibles after all - some of them look mighty strange. If you let them ripen and taste, you'll soon know - the gourds won't kill you, they'll just taste 'orrible :) Got any pics to show us - you might get a second opinion here ::)
T hanks for that supersprout, I will take some pics and post on here (if I can work out how to do it)
Maybe someone will be able to identify ???