My cousin has been growing zucchini for years and for some unknown reason, this year, one of her zucchinis is orange. She isn't sure if it turned orange or just grew orange from the get-go. She has several zucchini plants and all but the one is doing fine. The one with the orange zucchini hasn't borne any zucchini except the orange one. It has the traditional, long zucchini shape but is bright orange like a pumpkin. It is about 5-6 feet away from her other zucchini plants. Does anyone have any idea why this is happening and if it is edible?? She is growing pumpkins over 10 feet away.
We'll try and get a picture up, but my cousin just told me about it now and doesn't have a picture...
Thanks
Help! Why is my cousin's zucchini orange instead of green??
There are yellow/gold zucchini. These are yellow from the beginning. Green zucchini turn orange as they mature.
Thank you. I'm still a bit confused though... So regular green zucchini turn orange when left on the vine or just the yellow/gold zucchini do? Are these orange ones still tasty or do they get bitter like cukes do when left on the vine too long?
Thanks!
Zucchini like summer squash( crooknecks, straightnecks, scallops) get a semi-hard shell and the flesh dries up as the seeds develop. When ripe they will be hollow like a gourd. all of them will be yellow/orange when ripe. It is just more apparent on the green ones. They don't get bitter, just woody. Most cukes do the same. A seedy cuke may or may not be bitter but it will be woody.