Squash-like courgette

[bikermike]

Hello!

Bit of an odd one here, we've got a large courgette that has sat on the windowsill for a few weeks. When we cut into it, the skin was very hard and the flesh quite yellowy and firm, much like a butternut squash. The seeds are also hard and squash-like. Tastes nice enough, but I've never seen a courgette do that before. Anyone else?

It's either a black beauty (Mr Fothergill) or a greenbush (Thompson and Morgan), but I've had courgette off that plant before that have been entirely normal.

[bikermike]

Here's a pic

[ameno]

Is it not like that simply because it has been allowed to properly ripen? Even when we grow marrows, they are usually picked underripe, and obviously courgettes are well underripe.

[Plot70]

They are harvested very young and can be left to form into non stripy marrows or onto being long summer squashes if you leave them long enough.

[bikermike]

Thanks all, it makes logical sense, but I've never seen it before - I've had courgettes go soft and mouldy when left, but never had one turn. I guess they need to hit a certain level of maturity before they can do that.

[Plot70]

You leave them on the plant until the skin begins to harden.