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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: sarah on October 04, 2007, 19:46:33

Title: squashes
Post by: sarah on October 04, 2007, 19:46:33
how do you tell if your squashes are edible or ornamental. i have identified most of what i grew but have a little squash with two small fruits. they are about the size of a large grapefruit and yellow and white stripe.  any clue or are they all potentially edible?
Title: Re: squashes
Post by: ellkebe on October 04, 2007, 19:48:40
I think this is the point at which you turn to Jeaninne  ;D
Title: Re: squashes
Post by: Suzanne on October 05, 2007, 12:52:34
They aren't poisonous if they are ornamental (I hope, otherwise your relatives may be suing me!  :o )........just tough, tasteless and inedible. So if you are open to experimentation you can always try and see.  :)

Just in case I am wrong re the poisonous bit it may be advisable to have NHS Direct phone number next to the phone.   :-\
Title: Re: squashes
Post by: Eristic on October 06, 2007, 04:20:56
If they look good and keep well then they are ornamental, until you get hungry anyway. I've just harvested these Sweet Lightning squash and they can remain dotted around the place at least until halloween. Supposed to be a sweet tasting squash with a hard shell but not tried any yet.

(http://david-frary.com/images/squash_sweet_lightning.jpg)
Title: Re: squashes
Post by: saddad on October 06, 2007, 08:38:52
and very nice they look too Eristic!
;D
Title: Re: squashes
Post by: sarah on October 06, 2007, 08:48:23
o they look exackerly like them! thanks a lot. thanks for posting a pic Eristic. the name doesnt ring a bell so gawd knows where i got them! they look nice anyway.  my squash haul hasnt been great this year only a few butternuts and one halloween pumpkin and these little yellow ones. 
Title: Re: squashes
Post by: artichoke on October 06, 2007, 16:03:36
I tried eating some small yellow and green squashes from a packet of "ornamental" gourd/squashes, and was sick, though they tasted OK. Then I tried again in case I happened to have a stomach upset anyway.....and was sick again. So now I don't eat them. Very fond of "edible" squashes, though.