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Volunteer Round Squash: Natural Cross-Pollination Surprise

A round-fruited squash volunteer came from last year’s cross-pollination between your squash and a round-fruited relative (e.g., pumpkin, gourd). It’s edible and tasty—enjoy the genetic lottery!

Why It Happened

Squash family (Cucurbita) crosses readily.
Bees transfer pollen between varieties.
Seeds from crossed fruit produce hybrid offspring.

Save seed only if you want more surprises; otherwise buy fresh seed.

Round squash

Volunteer round squash—natural hybrid.

Round squash cut

Interior looks normal.

About Gardening: Squash Vine Death at Base: Stem Rot or Vine Borer?; Managing Wet Rot (Choanephora) in Summer Squash; Freezing Yellow Squash: Step‑by‑Step Guide; Green Stripes on Yellow Squash: Cross-Pollination or Maturity?; Green Markings on Yellow Squash: Variety Trait, Not Deficiency; Round Butternut Squash: Edible Cross-Pollination Result; Stop Squash and Zucchini Fruit Rot: Air Flow and Water Management; Shriveling Baby Yellow Squash: Likely Fruit Fly Damage; Yellow Squash Turning Green: Variety Trait, Not Problem; Volunteer Squash with Two-Toned Fruit: A Natural Hybrid Surprise

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