It does sound to me as if there's been some cross-fertilisation at the seed producers' place - with a lot of different varieties being grown nowadays it can happen. Although the seed producers are usually careful to grow their plants at a distance from other similar varieties, there's no accounting for what the general public might be growing in their gardens and which bees might be visiting.
I do think you ought to notify Fothergills so that they're aware that their processes are flawed.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
What an interesting thread - didn't see it when it was first started in the summer.
I really like courgettes and usually grow a couple of different varieties. I had never heard of this problem - so thank you for the heads-up
I know they always used to say that you should salt courgettes & aubergines before cooking them to draw out the bitter juices, but I don't find it is necessary to do this with modern strains. I wonder if the 'bitter' juices they were drawing off would have contained the chemicals which cause the unpleasant side effects?
Not nice - but it is nice to learn something new
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
The bitter taste of some fruit is caused by an over-production of plant defence chemicals called ‘cucurbitacins’. This is mainly a problem in courgettes and summer squash and is caused primarily by a mutation within the plant. The problem is more likely when plants are grown from saved seeds, where inadvertent cross-pollination may have occurred.
Affected fruit should not be eaten as it causes stomach upsets and affected plants should be removed.
I grew a mixture of courgettes and squash a few years ago. they were a type of squash the size of a small apple. i boiled it whole as suggested in a recipe book for small squash. This tasted very strong and I disregarded the whole lot. I had wondered at the time if id set some gourds or something unedible, .
id thrown away the seed packets so i couldnt say for sure which seed company they were from as i buy from several ones,
Ate two flowers ,cooked and have been sick with upset tum for two days, feels also like mild aluminium poisoning. They have been Chemtrails over London for 4 months, white Sun and misty skies.
Posts
It does sound to me as if there's been some cross-fertilisation at the seed producers' place - with a lot of different varieties being grown nowadays it can happen. Although the seed producers are usually careful to grow their plants at a distance from other similar varieties, there's no accounting for what the general public might be growing in their gardens and which bees might be visiting.
I do think you ought to notify Fothergills so that they're aware that their processes are flawed.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I am recovering from eating a mouthful of very bitter courgettes. Not pleasant experience.
Please see below website
http://www.foodsafetywatch.com/public/504print.cfm
The courgette was shop bought in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.
Oh dear, nasty stuff. I'm glad you're alright, and I'm very glad for the links you guys have put in here.
Never liked courgettes, myself
What an interesting thread - didn't see it when it was first started in the summer.
I really like courgettes and usually grow a couple of different varieties. I had never heard of this problem - so thank you for the heads-up
I know they always used to say that you should salt courgettes & aubergines before cooking them to draw out the bitter juices, but I don't find it is necessary to do this with modern strains. I wonder if the 'bitter' juices they were drawing off would have contained the chemicals which cause the unpleasant side effects?
Not nice - but it is nice to learn something new
The bitter taste of some fruit is caused by an over-production of plant defence chemicals called ‘cucurbitacins’. This is mainly a problem in courgettes and summer squash and is caused primarily by a mutation within the plant. The problem is more likely when plants are grown from saved seeds, where inadvertent cross-pollination may have occurred.
Affected fruit should not be eaten as it causes stomach upsets and affected plants should be removed.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=676
I grew a mixture of courgettes and squash a few years ago. they were a type of squash the size of a small apple. i boiled it whole as suggested in a recipe book for small squash. This tasted very strong and I disregarded the whole lot. I had wondered at the time if id set some gourds or something unedible, .
id thrown away the seed packets so i couldnt say for sure which seed company they were from as i buy from several ones,
Ate two flowers ,cooked and have been sick with upset tum for two days, feels also like mild aluminium poisoning. They have been Chemtrails over London for 4 months, white Sun and misty skies.
Perhaps you shouldn't eat them again