Uchiki kuri squash problem?

andy_doc_stuart · August 2023

Hi everyone
The fruits on one of my Uchiki kuri squash plants are looking like this in the photo. The size seems fine and they are ripening ok. Anyone have any idea why they have gone like this?
Many thanks in advance

Fairygirl · August 2023

HI @andy_doc_stuart - I see no one has responded unfortunately, but my post will at least bump up your query so that someone will hopefully help

I don't grow squashes, although I've grown pumpkins and courgettes, but it looks like they're a bit rotten at that point. Is the rest of the fruit firm, and is it only on one plant?
If they're all the same, but growing nicely apart from that, perhaps it's just a habit of the variety.
I take it there aren't any pests hiding in the point where the stem meets the fruit?

andy_doc_stuart · August 2023

Hi Fairygirl, thanks for replying!
most of the squash on this one plant are like this, otherwise ok eg firm and no sign of any problem where the fruit meet the stem.
I also have other plants of the same variety and they are all as I would expect and not like the ones in the photos.

thanks again!

Fairygirl · August 2023

I wonder if it's just been a pollination problem, or similar, then?
If they're otherwise ok - that's not so bad though!

andy_doc_stuart · August 2023

They look fine otherwise, so will wait til one ripens and see what it’s like inside. Thanks again

Dovefromabove · August 2023

I’ve grown Uchiki Kuri several times in the past and don’t recall them looking like that. It might be that your seeds came from a strain of that variety that carries that variation due to some cross pollination in its genetic history.

Providing the fruit taste ok I wouldn’t worry.

Let us know how they are inside and how they taste when you cook one 😊

andy_doc_stuart · August 2023

Hi Dovefromabove
thanks for your reply.
What you say makes sense as I have grown the squash from seeds which were in last years’ crop. I will let you know what happens when I chop one up and cook it!

Dovefromabove · August 2023

Just a thought … did you grow any of the ‘purely ornamental’ squashes?

I understand that there just might be a problem with eating a courgette or squash grown from a seed pollinated by them … I understand the trick is to slice into the uncooked fruit and taste it with your tongue and if it tastes bitter then do not eat. People have been hospitalised with gastrointestinal problems.

Hopefully someone may come along who knows more about this …?

it was discussed here
https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1043488/poisonous-courgette-warning/p1

andy_doc_stuart · August 2023

Hi again dovefromabove, blimey I had never heard of that! The squash are/were not ornamental, they were packet seeds which I grew in 2022 and the ones this year came from seeds taken from one of the fruits from last years’ crop. Do you think it’s possible this cross contamination could have occurred in this case? Thanks again for your ideas!

Dovefromabove · August 2023

I suppose it’s just possible that someone within the pollinators’ range might have been growing a squash with that formation and so the genes for that might have been transferred to the squash yin saved the seed from

Interesting, but provided as I say that the raw flesh is not bitter I would be perfectly happy to eat it.

Can we see a photo when you slice into the first one please? 😊

andy_doc_stuart · August 2023

Hi dovefromabove
Yes, will post a photo when I slice ‘em up!

Uchiki kuri squash problem?

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