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Squash identification #767883

Asked August 17, 2021, 10:39 PM EDT

Attached are photos of a what I believe to be a squash that is growing in my garden. Can you please identify? When planting my garden I used compost. This plant sprouted from the compost and I decided to let it grow to see what it was. The plant has large leaves and climbing vines.

Baltimore County Maryland

Expert Response

This looks like a squash plant and fruit. We cannot say what variety it is.   The volunteer grew from a seed that was inside a squash fruit that was discarded or rotted in the compost last year. The seeds from hybrid varieties produce plants that do not look exactly like the hybrid variety. It is also possible that the mystery squash is a result of a cross between two squash varieties in the same species. 

The fruit is edible and if young and tender, you may be able to prepare like a summer squash. You could allow the fruit to mature and harvest it as a winter squash once the skin hardens. It will be edible but the texture, eating quality, and storage potential is unknown. https://extension.umd.edu/resource/vegetables-not-true-type

Marian


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