What variety is this – squash or gourd and can you eat it?

Oct 23, 2022

Interesting
by: Jacki Cammidge, Certified Horticulturist

Squash and gourds are all in the same family (Cucurbits) and will cross pollinate each other.

Generally, seed companies grow them far away from each other to prevent this, and sell the seeds as pure stock. However, all it takes is a far flying bee or other insect to mess that all up, which is most likely what happened here.

You can’t tell from the seeds, but the fruit is another matter.

If you cut this open you might find that it is filled with seeds, instead of edible flesh.