DL

Thanks for the info as I was wondering about that myself. I have some Seminole and Greek Sweet Red that did not set too many squash early but have set quite a few in the last couple of weeks. I got mine in a little late but cold, wet weather has slowed things up.

I picked my first watermelon today and it was not ripe yet. A late year here.

Jack

Winter aquash(melon), shark fin squash(melon),.. are just that :SQUASH. So they don't have to be ripe. Asians are the big fans of those squash/melons. I have seen them to be sold at Asian markets at various stages. Of course , the ripe ones have better texture while young ones are more tender.

Ah yes the Winter Melon - very good stuff. However, I am working with winter squash/pumpkin family: c. maxima, c. moschata and c. pepo. Some of which can be eaten when young but I needed to know when they were ripe with mature seeds inside and dry thick flesh for baking or making pie. Hubbard, Butternut and Seminole are some of the varieties I was doing research on. Not the Winter Melon or Shark Fin which is c. benincasa.

DL

Here is a link that might be useful: Squash info

just leave a good one on the vine for as long as possible, for seed.

Thanks for that info.! I was wondering, because I have lots of baby Seminoles right now, [they were the last to start blooming/setting fruit] and am hoping to have a good supply of ripe ones before frost. I really don't know whether I could adequately cover them or not; the vines cover a vast area......so this is good to know. Now, if I can conquer the squash bugs before they conquer the squash, we just might have a good harvest!