This is a pattypan squash. We are growing them this year instead of zucchini, because they don't get all overgrown when you're not looking. They're nice to eat, and they can be harvested when they're about 2-1/2 to 3 inches across. This bad boy is 5 inches across.
I'm SURE it was not on the bush when I checked yesterday.
But I could be wrong.
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16 comments:
They grow at night you know. That's the only explanation for it. You check one day and overnight they turn big.
My Romano beans and cucumbers are doing the same hide-and-seek thing. Gah! Luckily (uh, I guess) we don't have much of either actually surviving the beetle/weevil onslaught, but I'd like to eat some of them before they're all tough and mealy.
Ooo, that boy's a handful hehehheheheheee (sorry)
This year for the first time I am growing those eight-ball zucchini, thinking the same thing (they won't get huge). I found a PUMPKIN sized one in the patch yesterday! (and yes it will be a pumpkin, why not?)
I don't know how it happens, but it appears to happen overnight.
They do that, don't they?
I am currently trying to work out what possessed me to put in 6 courgette plants.
My current fave is the Italian 'Tromba d'Albenga' variety, which is quite the rudest vegetable I have ever grown. It has the added benefit that people are so amused by them that they have accepted half a dozen before it actually registers that they are courgettes!
oh man I love those flying saucer squash....we grew them one year and we picked them and grilled them, picked them and steamed them, picked them and sauteed them......we STILL ended up with so many that at the end of the season I lined the walkway to our house with them as Halloween decorations....
love those squash....
The squash family are all like that - fast! Stuff the big ones with sausage mixed with onion and the innards you scooped out of the squash, plus whatever creative ideas you have. Yummystuff.
The squash gremlin has been there, has he? The bean genie visits my house and leaves giant green beans hanging where there were haricots verts the day before.
Whatcha gonna do with that patty-pot squash?
Kalyn: No, I swear it wasn't even there the day before! (But I could be wrong.) =)
Anita: Eat Your Young. Eat them small, while you have them. Keeps them from 1) getting eaten by critters, and 2) getting too big. Good luck out there.
Mouse: Well, he's a nice weight for his size.
Fast: A pumpkin-sized one? Hey, you gotta get out to your garden more often! :D I do love the idea of actually using it for your pumpkin. (Can't eat it.)
J-in-Wales: I had to look up your Tromba d'Albenga. I'd say it's cute, but... it's rude. Yes.
(Six plants? You are mad.)
Sandwich: Yesterday we sliced and roasted them. They developed tasty brown edges, yum! I'm not sick of them yet, but there's a bunch brewing on the vine. Eek. I imagine we will have leftovers in October too. :)
Zoomie: I love your idea. No more tinkering needed. In fact, this one squash is large enough to share. We'll cut it in half through the equator.
Kudzu: Pick the babies! From now on, I think all my baby wavy squash will be of the button size. AND I Googled patty-pot, to no avail. Regionalism, I presume. Cute!
Aliens that's what they are. Taking over the world one garden at a time.
Cookie--no regionalism, just my own smarty mouth. (Patty-pot is bigger than pattypan, no?) And I DO pick beans, but they're growing like magic ones.
Greg: I know where you live! You may be next.
Kudzu: Very clever. I was too literal. I like it.
My dad used to stuff the big ones that got away with minced meat (ground beef?) and savoury stuff and bake it. Being kids, we'd eat the middle and reject the casing!
I've had plenty of pattypans turn into huge ghosts when my back was turned. But you're right, you have to ignore them for a week to let that happen. this year my summer squashes didn't happen, but that's okay because I have lots of beets.
Mouse: I'm actually planning to stuff it like your dad did, but with sausage (on Zoomie's recommendation). I will be a big girl and eat whatever part pleases me.
Heather: No summer squashes? That's unheard of. OTOH, I never even THOUGHT of growing beets. You can do that? Ohjeez. I gotta try that next year. Eat 'em raw. Pee red.
I like those sliced into big rounds, brushed with marinade, grilled, and served burger-style.
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