Question
QUESTION: I live in Utah. I planted spaghetti squash this year. For some reason some of them look like watermelons. I have read that they will not cross pollinate with watermelon so I planted them together. Is there another spaghetti squash that looks this way or what do you think has gone wrong???
Also do you know how long to let banana squash grow?? I really want to eat some but not sure if they are ready.

ANSWER: Jackie:
I'm not exactly sure what you mean when you say they look like watermelons. Are they the size, shape or color, or all three? You might cut into one and see if you have a squash or a melon. They can cross pollinate, but you're planting them together would not be the cause - the result would not appear until the seeds of the crossed fruit were planted.

Let all winter squash grow until it is fully mature. The stem will be brown and shriveled and you should not be able to pierce the skin with your fingernail. They should be ready about 100 days from planting out.

Elyse

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for your help. On the spaghetti squash they are the shape of a spaghetti squash but the outside coloring looks like a watermelon. I broke one open and it seems to be stringy like a spaghetti squash. I cooked one and it didn't taste to good but I'm sure it is cause it is green. I am really confused on this one. Again thank you for your help.

Answer
They do start out green, I looked at mine and could see where they might look a little like watermelon. Again, these are long season crops. Did you check the seed packet/catalog? It will tell you number of days to maturity. They mature in the fall, but I don't know your area, so I can't say exactly when. I usually pick mine in October, but this year it looks like they may be ready in Sept. If you want to store them, you could even wait until the plant dies off before cutting - providing frost is not predicted. Frost will shorten the keeping time.

Let me know if it is still not clear. Picking one and trying it is always a good way to check, and to learn.

Elyse