Help: Can you identify this Mystery Squash?
Anyone who's planted a garden with children knows the process can become a bit, well, hectic. Multiply that by 400 students and you'll understand how volunteers at the Woodland Elementary West garden lost a few seed packets.
Here's the problem: Students at Woodland are growing a 'mystery' squash and volunteers have no packets to help identify it or determine when it's ready to harvest. Internet searches and emails to local Master Gardeners turned up nothing.
Here are details: It's a hard-shell variety with a fluted or scalloped edge near the stem. It's dark green with yellow / gold splotches (similar to an Acorn squash). It's more disk-shaped and about 7 inches wide. It grows on a bush-style plant, not vine. It looks like a thick-skinned patty-pan squash on steroids.
If you know what kind of squash this is, when to pick it or suggested recipes, please contact Anne Nagro! Thanks much in advance.
Have a tip to share? Email us!
CHECK THIS OUT: Our Generous Garden and Florida's Surgeon General!
Success Story: Harvest is in full swing at Woodland Elementary West School in Gages Lake, Ill. Volunteers recently picked 60 pounds of cucumbers, alone! Green beans, summer squash, cabbage, broccoli, tomatoes, herbs and much more are donated weekly to the Warren Township Food Pantry located nearby. Over the past three years, students have donated more than 1,400 pounds of produce to those in need. Read the full story about the garden at Woodland Elementary West!
Harvesting at Woodland Elementary West
Summer produce is almost ready for picking, so why not plan a party where kids can help harvest, prepare and taste kid-friendly crops?
Tomato and cucumber salad, berries and whipped cream, garden salsa... you get the idea! In fact, a tasting is the perfect way to bring together the community and thank summer garden volunteers.
Kids and adults may find working in the garden fun, but eating what you grow is the best of all!
