shazzbat said:

Can anyone tell me what kind of squash this is please?

http://photos.wanadoo.co.uk/album/al...photo=33097927

We were given 2 plants which were supposed to be butternut squashes, but
aren't showing any tendency to look like butternuts. They are however
showing a tendency to attempt taking over the entire allotment.

I accidentally broke this one off the plant, so I cut it open so you can see
the inside, although I'm assuming it's not fully finished yet. So if you
know-- what is it? What's it good for? How will I know when they're ripe?

Ripe squash will have hard rinds (can't pierce them with a fingernail) and
very hard stems. In some types of squash the stem will be as hard (or
harder) than wood. Many show some type of color change. It can
be dramatic and total, or it could be limited to a slight change in sheen
over most of the squash (with a less noticeable change in color in the
spot where it sat on the ground, from white to gold or orange).

A close look at the stem end might have helped to identify your squash.

If the stem has a very well defined angular shape, it will be one of several
species of squash. A stem is quite rounded and a bit 'corky' looking would
make it Cucurbita maxima (buttercup, Hubbard, Japanese kobocha).

It is *possible* that you have something in the butternut line. Along with
the best known shape, the long-necked squash with the bulge at the
blossom end, butternuts (C. moschata) come in a 'wheel of cheese' shape
and a blocky 'pumpkin' shape like your squash. Butternuts will generally
ripen to a tan color.

Or you could have some sort of pepper squash (C. pepo). It could be
a jack o'lantern pumpkin or a spaghetti squash.

My butternuts (I have the neck type as well as cheese types) are still
quite green. I expect it will be another month before they are all
ripe.
--
Pat in Plymouth MI ('someplace.net' is comcast)

Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
(attributed to Don Marti)