Willhuntforfood
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Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2009 6:44 pm
Location: Outskirts, NE

Are these volunteer plants a kind of squash?

So last year grandma bought the kids a bunch of gourds or squash and my boys did who knows what with them. Well long story short we had some volunteers pop up this year. I assumed they were pumpkins and some of them were. However I have alot of these growing and I have no clue what they are. I have googled it and still can't find anything that looks exactly like these. I would love any opinions on what these are. Sorry to have my first post be a question but if all else fails go to the forums where people know about these things. :)

[img]https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f179/willhuntforfood/P7260090.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f179/willhuntforfood/P7260089.jpg[/img]

These things are going nuts...they have grown out into the yard and are now invading my concrete walk.

[img]https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f179/willhuntforfood/P7260088.jpg[/img]

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applestar
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Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 7:21 pm
Location: Zone 6, NJ (3/M)4/E ~ 10/M(11/B)

They do look like some kind of squash or a gourd. Since ornamental gourds and sometimes squashes and pumpkins are all grown together in the same field, and they easily cross pollinate, yours could grow into something recognizable... or not. :lol: I'm intentionally doing the same thing -- I planted seeds from last year's gourds that we dried but got broken for one reason or another. Not even flowers yet so I've a way to go though.

Hard shelled gourds and squashes like luffa gourd and spaghetti squash ARE edible when young. Treat them like summer squash. If you're adventurous, you might try eating one. :wink: WAIT! Would someone please chime in and tell us if there are any toxic gourds?

Willhuntforfood
Newly Registered
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2009 6:44 pm
Location: Outskirts, NE

Thanks for the input. I would be willing to try them but now ya have me worried about getting poisoned. Hard to find out info if we are not really sure what they even are????



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