[potatoheart]

Hi, it is my first year on my allotment and I thought I would grow some pumpkins, They are looking great but I have some very odd large oblong green stripey ones. I think they have cross pollinated with my courgettes. My questions are can I eat them and when. I have a couple that are very large. How would be best to cook them and what are tese cross pollinated plants called?
Thanks

[mumofstig]

which variety of pumpkin are you growing, out of curiosity.
Even if they have cross pollinated the fruit this year will look as they should.

It would only be if you sowed the seed from a crosspollinated pumpkin that the fruits might look different.

Are you sure that the long stripey ones are not just courgettes that have got too big, as that's what it sounds like

[GreenOwl]

Cross-pollination would cause changes in the next generation not this.  Did the seed come out of the same packet?  Any piccies?  Sound like marrows.  Tend to be a bit watery but you could slice in half lengthways, scoop out the seeds and stuff with something spicy (rice or cous cous can be good as they absorb any excess water but spicy beef is nice as well.)  Eat them when you think they are ready.

[potatoheart]

which variety of pumpkin are you growing, out of curiosity.
Even if they have cross pollinated the fruit this year will look as they should.

It would only be if you sowed the seed from a crosspollinated pumpkin that the fruits might look different.

Are you sure that the long stripey ones are not just courgettes that have got too big, as that's what it sounds like

Hi thanks for your reply I planted 3 types, Ghostrider, hundredweight and amazonka. They were all from packets. They are very large, I have taken a picture but they are twice the size now. I'm not sure how to post it though.

[potatoheart]

Cross-pollination would cause changes in the next generation not this.  Did the seed come out of the same packet?  Any piccies?  Sound like marrows.  Tend to be a bit watery but you could slice in half lengthways, scoop out the seeds and stuff with something spicy (rice or cous cous can be good as they absorb any excess water but spicy beef is nice as well.)  Eat them when you think they are ready.

Thanks, they are not marrows as they are too fat, its all very strange but very exciting, I will eat one soon.

[mumofstig]

If they are pumpkins then you really must wait until they change colour, to indicate that they are ripe.

Unripe they taste of..........................not a lot really ...like marrows in my experience

I've Googled and all of yours should be orange when ripe

[cornishgirl]

The squash family are notoriously promiscious and will cross pollinate with others on your patch and your neighbours. Last year I did a big patch of pumpkins/ squashes / marrows etc. The marrows and courgettes bred true but the butternuts, crown prince, spaghetti squash and three types of pumpkin had a field day! Yes you can eat them in any way you would eat a pumpkin - my favourite is to roast them with onion, garlic and any herbs and other robust veg you have and serve them - on pasta, in potatoes, with roast hot / cold meat etc etc......