[Nobbie]

Just started to use some of my sweet dumpling squash and some of them have an intensely bitter aftertaste. Seems to be mostly the smaller ones. Has anyone else experienced this? Is it just a case that they haven't ripened. It just seems such an extreme taste that I thought it would have been mentioned on the packet. I've eaten butternut when immature and they're fine, just not as much flavour, but these are truly inedible. They don't even look much different.

[Gardener and Rabbit]

I had a similar problem with a red kuri squash, it looked lovely but the taste was just indescribably awful, so I know exactly what you mean. Following advice on here, I left the rest of them to mature on a windowsill, but I'm in no hurry to try them again!   

 http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=116925.0

[BabbyAnn]

Going back to 2011, I grew Tennessee Sweet Potato - it was anything but sweet and left a horrible bitter taste in my mouth.  Totally inedible.  I was so disappointed but I never found out why.  The fruits were definitely ready for harvesting, and all of the other winter squashes I grew in the same bed were fantastic - it had been a great year for growing summer crops. Even one I had later (thinking perhaps it needed to mature to bring out the flavour) was just as bitter.  Since then I've not been terribly successful with the remaining seeds, mainly weather related, but I had wondered if the reason was perhaps genetics rather than growing conditions. 

[Nobbie]

That's not good news as I'm going to try the Red Kuri next, think I'll do a taste test before mixing it with anything else. I had to throw away a big pot of stew after putting some squash in it On the plus side, my spaggetti squash was was definitely worth growing, lovely with a lamb keema curry spooned on top. I only used a small one and that was plenty for two and I've still got 6 the size of rugby balls left from just one plant

[surbie100]

This is only from gurgle research, so might be twaddle, but both the tennessee sweet potato and the sweet dumpling are c.pepo family, which is the same as many ornamental gourds and courgettes. There is something in the genetics that could mean fruit that is quite immature when picked is bitter and won't ripen.

I've never had this - but am growing sweet dumpling next year.

[pigguns]

An early Urchi Kuri-thingy wasn't that great, nor my Acorn squashes.  I'm maturing them to see if they improve with time.
Besides I have a shed full of other types to get through  and I'm waaaay behind on my one a month schedule.

[AnneB]

I grew Thelma Sanders sweet potato acorn squash this year.  I think that is a c.pepo.   I have to report that it was completely yummy and no trace of bitterness, even the smaller ones.  We have three more left.

[Rampant_Weasel]

i grew sweet dumpling this year and it tasted fine, the fruit was mature on the plant for a long time b4 i picked it tho.
it tastes good but is quite dry, i prefer the taste of the yellow types such as hunter