I wouldn't hesitate to eat that. Really looks like one of its parents is a marrow for sure, the other could have been any other kind of bush squash, definitely a Cucurbita pepo of some sort. There are a lot of C pepo squashes ranging from zucchinis and acorns to some of the small pumpkins, some bush some vining, pretty much all edible, although some are much better than others and they hybridize freely. There are number of oddly shaped C. pepos, too often called "gourds" and not much for eating. There are also at least three other species in Cucurbita, that produce quality edible squash and can hybridize with Cucurbita pepo varieties at times. If you save seeds or volunteers from mixed squash plantings you never know what kind of woods colts you will end up with, most of which will make passable summer squash if picked very young and most of which will fail miserably as mature winter squash.

I grew Doan Gua for the first time this season - a fuzzy/wax melon, which produced 11 fruits on only 2 plants, and it got started very late! The largest was 18+ lbs, and most were over 15 lbs. Had no squash bug/disease problems, stores well (I am storing one experimental one for over 7 weeks now - it keeps exuding more of that powdery wax, which is probably how it keeps so long), and the only problem is the fuzziness, which can give spliters unless I wear gloves. It cooks well in anything I have put it in, absorbing flavors and staying firm, even when cooked over 40 minutes. I have used it in Thai curries, salads, and soups, Chinese stir-fries, and even in a Mexican mole, with great results. I also made a zucchini bread with it, when I had a bunch leftover and was running out of things to do with it. The only problem is it's size - it is so big I have to use it for several days in a row! Dave

looks like a long variety of the winter melon. in cantonese we call the round ones dong gua and the long ones tzeet gua. the ones we grow have yellow flowers on short stems. yours are white on long stems.

Fantastic. I got some melons and seeds out of some melons from some oriental people. They do not speak English so it is very difficult to talk to them. Very nice people. Now I know which one is the winter melon. However, there was another melon type with white interior that have seeds like the bitter melon. like arrows. I understand these may not germinate so easy. Anyway these melons are longer and green. As they get old in storage they tend to dry out almost. I did not want to grow this one next year. waste of time. or else I should eat these when young. The inside is a little more stringy than the better one. I like the one with the cucumber type seeds which must be the winter melons. and the other ones I dont like as well because the skin is very tough. very difficult to get the skin off. the one with the cuc seeds the skin comes off super easy if you simply cook it with the skin on it comes right off when cooked. so incredibly simple. just grab a corner and the entire skin comes off in one easy pull. The most amazing thing I have ever seen. The winter melon with the cuc seeds is very good to eat in soup. everyone should try it. It is really nice. I kept some seeds out of that one and hope they grow true to form. Thank you Dennis Peace Garden Dawgie