Pumpkin or courgette?
General UK England Kent
I've planted some pumpkin seeds and they have been out in the garden for some time now. The plants do not look the same some look like courgettes and the others are defo pumpkins can some one let me know if they are pumpkins or courgettes.
Posted
by: Andrew
(1 point)
Posted: July 21, 2014
Answers
Depending on where you got your "pumpkin" seeds from, you might have gotten seeds that cross-pollinated in the field last summer and whose offspring produced hybrid "pumpinis" (what I call a cross between a pumpkin and a zucchini--the latter, our term for courgette).
Summer squash and pumpkins are closely related and will hybridize readily. That won't affect this year's fruits, only the seeds.
I often get fruits like that look like this growing in and around my compost pile from seeds I've scooped out of last summer's squash/ pumpkins. They typically make pretty good eating when very young.
I'd just let it grow and see what happens. Every garden should produce a surprise or two each season.
One year after the vines had died back in the fall, I was startled to come across a bright orange fruit about 10 inches in diameter and more than a yard long.
Summer squash and pumpkins are closely related and will hybridize readily. That won't affect this year's fruits, only the seeds.
I often get fruits like that look like this growing in and around my compost pile from seeds I've scooped out of last summer's squash/ pumpkins. They typically make pretty good eating when very young.
I'd just let it grow and see what happens. Every garden should produce a surprise or two each season.
One year after the vines had died back in the fall, I was startled to come across a bright orange fruit about 10 inches in diameter and more than a yard long.
Posted
by: Peg Boyles
(4 points)
Posted: July 21, 2014
From a botanical standpoint, pumpkins and courgettes (zucchini) share the same Latin name; genus and species are Cucurbita pepo. With the smooth, dark-green, cucumber-shaped fruit, I would say this is a courgette.
Posted
by: Charlie B.
(5 points)
Posted: July 22, 2014
Nicole Castle Brookus commented,
Many "pumpkins" (and some use that common name to refer to several winter squashes) are Cucurbita moschata, C. mixta, C. maxima or even one of several other species. almost 10 years ago.
Many "pumpkins" (and some use that common name to refer to several winter squashes) are Cucurbita moschata, C. mixta, C. maxima or even one of several other species. almost 10 years ago.
Charlie B. commented,
Yes, you are correct - thanks for the clarification to the previous answer. almost 10 years ago.
Yes, you are correct - thanks for the clarification to the previous answer. almost 10 years ago.
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