Last fall I got some delicious winter squash at the farmers market. I was calling it pumpkin because the meat is orange. It had a nutty sort of flavor and was lending itself nicely to Thai curries. It was incorrectly labeled at the market as papaya squash, which is a summer squash and definitely not this. This has sort of a butternut shape though thinner on top, green with light buttery spotting, smooth skin like a butternut and the side on the ground is bleached of color.

I saved the seeds and planted this spring. The one plant I kept has grown a patch that has taken over half the yard. It put out these amazing vines that root into the ground, has big beautiful leaves and makes lots of big yellow flowers that black bees and ants love and that we have been adding to omelets. Its still flowering this late into the summer. Its very prolific for one single plant. Here is a pic of the largest squash so far. I would love to know what type it may be so I can figure out how big I should let the fruit grow before picking. I think this guy is ready, its got a good weight and is about 8 inches long.

squash pic