What kind of squash might this be?

Discussion in 'Plants: Identification' started by islandbadger, Aug 10, 2013.

  1. islandbadger

    islandbadger New Member

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    Location:
    Gulf Islands, BC
    Hey guys,

    for my first post, could anyone shed any light on what this 'mystery squash' might possibly be?

    whatKindOfSquash.jpg

    growing in the gulf islands region, planted out sometime in late june/early july, and has grown quickly with the hot weather of the last month.

    i just hope it's not a gourd - i have several more of these plants, and they are rapidly outcompeting my single delicata squash.

    thanks for any feedback, more pics/descriptions can be forthcoming if necessary.

    Enjoy the hot weather!

    - island badger
     
  2. Fine ocean parker

    Fine ocean parker Active Member

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    If squash isn't grown in isolation than they will cross pollinate. These seed could in turn be a mix and possible turn out to be something completely different. So, if you didn't buy it or plant it could be anything. I have a couple rouge squash plants around my garden I believe from using my compost. your squash look similar in color to a pumpkin I have growing but the bump on the bottom is different.
    Good luck.
     
  3. Lysichiton

    Lysichiton Active Member

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    Fraser Valley, BC.
    "Magical Mystery Squash" That what you get with volunteers from the compost. Mine in the past have ranged from bland to nasty. I used to hope for a delicious new variety to name after myself, but now I just weed them out.
     
  4. islandbadger

    islandbadger New Member

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    ahh, magical mystery squash! "ranging from bland to nasty" LOL!

    here's another pic.
    moreSquash.jpg
    looks pumpkin-ey to my untutored eye. lovely bit of rain early this morning, the garden was dying for it.
     
  5. islandbadger

    islandbadger New Member

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    hello again,

    well, it's been a month and i thought to post an update on the progress of my mystery squash.

    i was told by a friend that this one was a hubbard squash - not pumpkin as i had thought: (don't laugh at my dwarf delicata in the corner there)
    squash1.jpg

    and this guy formed late but has made up for it, growing super fast - the ridges on it and the size of the thing make me wonder if _this_ might actually be a pumpkin?
    squash2.jpg

    also, i wonder when i should consider harvesting the smaller orange squash pictured above - i have 5 of them and all of the foliage is heavily mildewed (i think that's what the fuzz is) and dying off.

    thanks for any advice!
     
  6. Lysichiton

    Lysichiton Active Member

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    There's are many squash types, let alone the hybrids that these could be. Here is a link to the Seed Savers Exchange squash page for example:

    http://www.seedsavers.org/onlinestore/squash/

    "Hubbards" are my favourite winter squash. I grew Golden Hubbards and "Sibley". Yum. They are hard to find the stores in BC.

    They have grown really well this year & I will have well over 100lbs of squash. My plants are basically dead at this point from mildew, drought, shorter days W.H.Y. I will gather the squash over the next few days & leave them outdoors under a covered patio until Oct/Nov when the rains start. Then I put them into a cool corner in my basement. They will remain good till Feb/Mar.

    BTW if anyone knows of a source of seeds of big-blue-warty-ugly Hubbards like I used to get years ago, please let me know :)
     

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