Guess what? I FINALLY cut open that 15 lb. pumpkin-shaped surprise segregate from my Thai Kang Kob cross. Yes, it's the one I harvested last fall on November 12, 2016.
This squash has been sitting around the house, at first in the corner of the family room on the floor, then on a chair, then the WWL after most of the plants went outside. I've had to scrub it 3 times, 4 if you count today, first time for just being dusty and then because -- and I didn't know this can happen -- it was infested by SCALE INSECTS. They were sucking on the squash and the squash was oozing amber colored sticky liquid. Last two times, there were ants all over them, too.
I don't know if the scales infested the squash on their own or the ants put them up to it.
I was hoping the shoulders will turn buff-colored, but they never did. However, the seed cavity and the seeds look fully matured.
The flesh is crisp and not stringy at all. The stem-end section between the stem and the seed cavity is spongy and lacks flavor but is soft and easy to eat raw, the rest of the squash is hard and crunchy. There is slight sweetness, not a whole lot, a bit watery flavor that reminds me of mature Tronboncino -- I really think despite my labels and notes, there is some Tronboncino in this cross -- it would make sense and that might be where the giant fruit size originated. I was chewing on the raw pieces, thinking there doesn't seem to be any of the spicy aftertaste of TKK... then after I had swallowed and was switching to thinking about something else, it hit me with the spiciness which lingered for a bit.
I put the piece I cut off in a stew with pork, daikon, Korean glutinous corn off the cob, immature apples, and mushrooms, onions, elephant garlic, and aji pineapple peppers (Rosemary, bayleaf, sea salt) in home made chicken stock. I'm also roasting a 1/4 piece so I can taste it by itself. But the stew tastes wonderful -- so rich and full of flavor.
It's a keeper ...or it would be if it wasn't still segregating. I'm hoping to find the big pumpkin-shaped segregate next time around too. But I'm going to need some help. I've saved all the seeds so if anyone is interested in helping out by growing some seeds next year
and sending me back a dozen seeds if yours grow 15+Lbs pumpkin-sized fruits. PM me.