It probably was a borer. That's what it usually is when a plant suddenly "drops dead." I'd recommend that you try mounding a bit of soil over some of the vines, so that they root. This is just a precaution, in case you have another attack. George Tahlequah, OK

Thanks , it is a parallel slit, so now I may breath just a tad bit easier LOL. I am attached to this particular plant. The weather has been so crummy here that the plants that I actually sowed for are about a quarter the size of this one volunteer. It is trying so hard to grow I would hate to be the one to kill it!! Thanks Again Donna :)

My daughter saw black acorn squash on the vine the other day and is already begging for her favorite dish: Stuffed Acorn Squash: Cut acorn squash in half (be careful!!), scoop out seeds Stuff with a mounded scoop of filling, options below: - 1 tube of pork sausage fills 2 squash (4 halves). - we make our own with ground turkey. I add mace, nutmeg, cinnamon and a bit of sage. - I usually add 1/2 (or so) as much oatmeal as sausage because I like to stretch the meat. Also, the pork sausage is very rich and the oatmeal soaks up the grease. - My husband is a vegetarian. I mix Textured Soy Protein (bacon-bit-like dry meat substitute), an egg, and spices & flavorings to mimic the meat filling. - I like to stick walnuts or pecans on the top of the mounded meat filling - Alternately, you can omit the meat filling and just put equal amounts of butter, maple syrup, and brown sugar in the seed cavity. Bake in a hot oven until done (maybe 375-400 degrees for 1- 1 1/2 hrs, sorry, I cook in the old-fashioned way). Squash is done when a fork easily passes through the flesh...it's better to be overdone than underdone. Serve with maple syrup drizzled on the top - one half of a decent sized acorn squash is nearly a meal. The cooked halves freeze well, we generally fill the oven when we make squash. You can also bake the (cleaned) seeds sprinkled with seasoning of your choice...for about 5 minutes (you have to watch them, they burn fast) in the same temp oven. They make a nice snack and kids enjoy doing it. You could find a recipe for baked pumpkin seeds if you are interested. If you have not tried Spaghetti Squash - it's very good, no-or-low-carb, it's not exactly like spaghetti, but if you use your imagination, it's a good substitute for angel-hair pasta, and makes a nice casserole. You bake it in a very similar way and then scoop out the fibers after they are baked. You will want to put any squash on a cookie sheet to bake. Happy squash-baking! Kate

Burpee may had a packaging problem this year. I just ran across a poster with pictures of a golden zuchinni grown from a Burpee package labeled acorn. Your description fits a cylindrical yellow zucchini. So you are probably in the same boat. If you like yellow zukes , great, but in either event contact Burpee for a replacement package.