Guest guest Posted October 4, 2007 Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 Early in the summer someone gave me what he thought was some type of squash plant. Several plants had grown out of his compost pile. I put it in the ground and it grew (very s l o o o o wly) all summer long. It always had a lot of small yellow flowers a little bigger than a buttercup but they never became anything. I kind of gave up on it and didn't check it for several weeks. The other day I noticed that there's finally something there, but I have no clue as to what it is. It's pale green in color with kinda white markings on it and very fuzzy....oval in shape and at this writing about five inches in length. I'm assuming that it is some type of squash, but it looks like no squash I've ever seen. More than anything, it's the fuzziness that's puzzling me. Anyone have any ideas what it might be? TM ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 4, 2007 Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 In a message dated 10/4/2007 10:25:58 P.M. Central Daylight Time, neysa37 writes: Can you take a picture of the " squash " and plant leaves?? I can once I figure out how to work my new digital camera. :-) Thought about doing that and sending it to our local cooperative extension office. TM ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 4, 2007 Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 In a message dated 10/4/2007 10:43:33 P.M. Central Daylight Time, jtwigg writes: I wonder if is one of these. Well, in its current state, it looks like none of them. It's distinctly oval in shape...looks like a pale green, striated, fuzzy avocado. LOL From what I've read about these fuzzy things it seems that some lose the fuzz when they mature. I can't imagine eating this as is...it would definitely have to be peeled. Unfortunately, even though current temps are very unseasonable for this area (upstate NY) Jack Frost usually makes an appearance by mid month. In that case, considering how long its taken to grow, I doubt that it'll ever reach maturity. I'll definitely pick what's out there, though just to cut it open and see what's inside. Thanks, Judy, for all your suggestions! TM TM ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 4, 2007 Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 TendrMoon wrote: > It's pale green in color with kinda white markings > on it and very fuzzy....oval in shape and at this writing about five inches > in length. I'm assuming that it is some type of squash, but it looks like no > squash I've ever seen. More than anything, it's the fuzziness that's puzzling > me. Anyone have any ideas what it might be? Can you take a picture of the " squash " and plant leaves?? Neysa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 4, 2007 Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 I wonder if is one of these. 1. Chinese Squash. Chinese squash or melon, round or slightly elongated, is a light green color and has a rind something like a watermelon. When young it has a whitish, fuzzy appearance. The meat, about two inches thick and the seed are white. The flavor is mild. Steaming is the best method for cooking. FUZZY MELON The fuzzy melon (Benincasa hispida), also called fuzzy squash, hairy melon and moqua, is a winter melon that is 6 to 10 inches long with green skin and fine hairlike fuzz that disappears when the fruit matures. Their shape varies from cylindrical to dumbbell like. It's mild subtle flavor is described as somewhat like a cucumber or summer squash. They are originally from southern China and have been cultivated there since antiquity. http://www.sfc.ucdavis.edu/research/AsianVeg/cucurbit.htm includes a photo and http://www.hormel.com/kitchen/glossary.asp?id=36036 with photo Moa Gua Squash An Asian summer squash that has a long tapered shape with a light green outer skin covering a white to cream colored speckled flesh. When young, the squash has a mild flavor, but as it matures the taste becomes increasingly bitter. It is a good squash for sautéing, stir frying, or as an ingredient to soups and stews. It can be kept refrigerated for approximately 1 week. This squash is also known as Mao Gua, Moqua, Hairy Melon, Fuzzy Gourd, Hairy Cucumber, Ho Bak, and Bi Dao, to name a few. Fuzzy melon is the name given to wax gourds which have been harvested young when their hairy down covers them much like a newly born infant. The whitish bloom of the wax gourd covers only the fully grown fruit and is responsible for its particularly good keeping qualities. The flavour is like a zucchini, with a slight lemony edge. The fuzzy gourd and the winter melon should not be confused with one another, even though they both share the same botanical name. Some experts feel that the fuzzy gourd is a young form of winter melon, while others consider it a separate cultivar. - Neysa Dormish Thursday, October 04, 2007 10:16 PM Re: Name This Veggie TendrMoon wrote: > It's pale green in color with kinda white markings > on it and very fuzzy....oval in shape and at this writing about five inches > in length. I'm assuming that it is some type of squash, but it looks like no > squash I've ever seen. More than anything, it's the fuzziness that's puzzling > me. Anyone have any ideas what it might be? Can you take a picture of the " squash " and plant leaves?? Neysa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 5, 2007 Report Share Posted October 5, 2007 TendrMoon wrote: > > In a message dated 10/4/2007 10:25:58 P.M. Central Daylight Time, > neysa37 writes: > > Can you take a picture of the " squash " and plant leaves?? > > > > I can once I figure out how to work my new digital camera. :-) Thought > about doing that and sending it to our local cooperative extension office. > > Good idea!! They SHOULD know what it is!! Neysa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 5, 2007 Report Share Posted October 5, 2007 perhaps a fuzzy melon? if the link doesn't work, it's google images fuzzy melon. http://images.google.com/images?q=fuzzy+melon & sourceid=ie7 & rls=com.microsoft:en-\ US & ie=UTF-8 & oe=utf8 & um=1 & sa=N & tab=wi TendrMoon wrote: Early in the summer someone gave me what he thought was some type of squash plant. Several plants had grown out of his compost pile. I put it in the ground and it grew (very s l o o o o wly) all summer long. It always had a lot of small yellow flowers a little bigger than a buttercup but they never became anything. I kind of gave up on it and didn't check it for several weeks. The other day I noticed that there's finally something there, but I have no clue as to what it is. It's pale green in color with kinda white markings on it and very fuzzy....oval in shape and at this writing about five inches in length. I'm assuming that it is some type of squash, but it looks like no squash I've ever seen. More than anything, it's the fuzziness that's puzzling me. Anyone have any ideas what it might be? TM ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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