I had some volunteer squash and tomato plants in my garden this year. Can anyone identify the type of squash this is? Here is a link to a pic:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/kiruthedog/detail?.dir=3d...dnm=8141.jpg&.src=ph
It is sitting on a manila folder 8.5 x 11 so you can kinda get an idea of the size.

This is only my second year gardening and last year I planted delicata squash and melons, but not this kind of squash.

I also had some volunteer tomato plants. A few main crop, and a yellow roma type that I have never seen before.

How did they get there? Do I just say "thank you gardening gods" and enjoy them? This is all very strange to me.

Thanks!

It is some kind of acorn squash, not sure the type, but I grew them too last year from volunteers--which means the seeds came from a grocery store squash.

I kept those squashes, and actually I still have some. It's funny how they turned orange/yellow at some point about three months after they were picked, and they are still that color. They taste ok, not as good as a butternut, and they also have a somehow more 'watery' flesh.

Maybe it is one of those F2 generation things - a seed from a hybrid germinating and producing something, sometimes good, but rarely something you can reproduce! Only one way to find out, if it is something worth trying.

A site with MANY photos of squash is www.rareseeds.com and I get several types from them every season, as they list the species and I am looking for moschata. Try there - maybe it will be there, or something like it.

Dave

It's a Sweet Dumpling.
I remember now, because together with Waltham and Delicata, it is the only variety I ever bought in the store.

Thanks for the info. I just checked out that website www.rareseeds.com and it looks a lot like that sweet dumpling one. But it is a little more pointy and the flesh is pale yellow, not orange. The weird thing is, I never bought one like it at the store, ever. Maybe the last people that lived at my house, or maybe a seed blew over from the neighbors yard (far far away)??? Oh well, I will never know how it got into my garden. I hope I like them, 'cuz they are producing!


Message was edited by: darlingmama

The photo is a classic acorn squash shape. Sweet Dumpling or Hearts Of Gold acorn have concave blossom ends and concave stem ends. It is the green and ivory striping that is unusual in an acorn squash. I only know of one named variety, 'Harlequin' that is marked like yours, and it is a hybrid cross.
My thought on this is that since squashes will cross breed quite easily, one of your Delicatas got fertilized with an acorn squash pollen, resulting in the unexpected hybrid. If you are interested in finding out if this creation will breed true, save a few seeds and try them out next year.
Tomato seeds can volunteer even up here in my neck of the woods. Again, if you were growing hybrids, that would explain the yellow Roma type, the seed simply reverted back to a parent's genetics. If the tomatoes you grew were open pollinated, it is likely you have another accidental cross on your hands. Only growing out their seeds will give you the correct explanation.
Enjoy your gifts from your gardening efforts last year.

Gotta say I went to the rareseeds site and bought some sweet dumpling seeds and lemon squash and about 5 different pepper seed packs. Prepping for next spring! :^O
Also bought a t-shirt and a hat!
I guess I've been inspired!! and bought some cool stuff B-) !

Ihave forced myself to expand the gardens. Plenty of room, just not enough compost. I predict a busy Fall! Can't wait!


Message was edited by: BlackLandFarmer

and my questions have been answered!
Thank you!