Squash snafu

Okay, I don't care for squash all that much, but my husband likes it so I bought one plant for the garden this year. (Got going too late to start my own -- maybe next year.) I don't like summer squash at all so I bought an acorn squash, which is okay when you add a little butter and some brown sugar if you really feel like splurging.

Anyway, I was mildly disappointed to see a long, yellow veggie developing where I expected something round and green. Oh well, at least my husband would like it. Harvested the first one this evening, brought it in to the kitchen and tried to cut it. Imagine my surprise when I couldn't get through the skin -- %#^* thing isn't even a squash plant, it's a gourd!

So now it would seem I have several fall decorations rather than any kind of meal at all. Any one know if you have to do anything special to a gourd, or does it just dry by itself? I may not get to eat it, but I'm not going to have it rotting in my frontroom, either!

LOL I've no idea but that's really funny!

I agree with KATYMAC re: lol

I remember years ago the same thing happened to my dad! He had a bit of a vegetable patch, even though he was not really a gardener, and he began raising 'squash'. It was really disappointing when the 'squash' turned out to be gourds!

There's a forum for gourds and they have all sorts of ideas on what to do with them. Go check it out!

Gwen

I think that forum is only open to subscribing members.

I've been thinking about subscribing -- maybe now would be a good time. :-)

Believe me, you won't regret it! Well, maybe when you find yourself still sitting at the computer after hours and hours and not getting anything else done, you might regret it. LOL

ROFLMAO!

I wonder what a gourd tastes like?!

I haven't a clue what one tastes like, but I can tell you it cuts like a rock!

MZWEAZELLE,
Whats the chances its not completely ripe?, and thats why its so hard.

ski, I think they just get harder as they ripen. MzWeazelle, there are sites that show you how to make birdhouses from gourds. I WSd some seeds but they were one of my (many) failures. I do remember they have to "cure" for months before they can be worked.

Skidivur:
I think KatyMac is right. If it were a squash I don't think it would ever be as hard as it is, at least not once it got to be anything like this size. Since the plant was obviously mismarked when I bought it, it could be anything! Just one more reason to start from seed.

KatyMac:
My gourd is probably a little small for anything bigger than hummingbirds to build a nest in, but I'm sure there are lots of great things to do with it. I guess I'm going to have to subscribe so I can get access to more stuff!

This message was edited Aug 12, 2006 9:51 AM

Do! There's so many terrific forums and last winter I had such fun learning Winter Sowing. Not terribly successful but I think I've figured out most of what I did wrong and am anxious to try again this winter. I've been saving milk jugs all spring and summer. I'm going to try to WS more pricey plants this year, if successful it's quite a $ savings.

I don't know what they suggest for Winter Sowing, but I bipassed the whole plastic jug thing and went straight for the plastic house. This will be my first winter with it so I'm sure I'll have my share of failures, too. We're still working on the inside. We've got electricity to the building, but not routed through the inside yet. I've got a sink, but there's no water to it yet. I've got high hopes!

I'm jealous! What a fun time you'll have there. I would love one but if I had one I would still winter sow. Different goals with different results. I have enough PVC and visqueen to build one... maybe when my sons visit next month. I could do it myself but it's such fun to watch them work together (or not).

ROFL @ ski's comment.

tiffanya, you're just having way too much fun!

Oh yes. I think it must be the late nights, long days, and early mornings I've been doing lately...the brain's getting fuzzy {static} making everything extra funny. ;-)

Tiffanya:
You're experiencing "twoamzers." After 2am, everything is funny. :-)