Self-germinating butternut squash
 

About once a month we buy a butternut squash. We keep it for 2 - 3 weeks
as we find that it is usually a a little sweeter that way.

I just opened our latest one to find that about half the seeds inside
had germinated, with sprouts up to 6 cm long! I tried one but
unfortunately it wasn't nice like a bean sprout, but somewhat bitter
(cucurbitacin?). In many years of buying squashes and melons I've never
seen this before. I suppose I could try potting up some of the seeds and
grow them on, but it's not something of interest for me.

Anyone come across this before?

--

Jeff

Self-germinating butternut squash
 

On Sun, 28 Feb 2021 16:11:29 +0000, Jeff Layman
wrote:

Anyone come across this before?

I have seen seeds sprouted in a winter=stored spaghetti squash. I had
one that kept until the following spring!
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Self-germinating butternut squash
 

On Sun, 28 Feb 2021 16:11:29 Jeff Layman wrote:

About once a month we buy a butternut squash. We keep it for 2 - 3
weeks as we find that it is usually a a little sweeter that way.

I just opened our latest one to find that about half the seeds inside
had germinated, with sprouts up to 6 cm long! I tried one but
unfortunately it wasn't nice like a bean sprout, but somewhat bitter
(cucurbitacin?). In many years of buying squashes and melons I've never
seen this before. I suppose I could try potting up some of the seeds
and grow them on, but it's not something of interest for me.

Anyone come across this before?

No, but I bought a butternut squash in January last year, saved the
seeds and in March/April I put about twenty out on damp kitchen paper
where they all germinated very readily.

I had a good harvest and still have several squashes waiting to be
eaten!

If you want to eat the seeds I find it's necessary to bake them first.
They have a nice nutty flavour.

David

--
David Rance writing from Caversham, Reading, UK