<![CDATA[PSA for the #gardening #allotment #GrowYourOwn folks: this sounds ridiculous but is 100% true I promise.]]>PSA for the folks: this sounds ridiculous but is 100% true I promise. If your courgettes, zucchini or summer squash taste bitter, don't eat them. In hot dry conditions squash produce a toxic defensive compound called cucurbitacin E, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea. If you keep eating them it can cause something called toxic squash syndrome (again I promise this isn't a joke) which can make your hair fall out. And this has been a very hot dry summer.

Prompted by a friend of mine sharing that his courgettes were minging this year so he covered them in cheese and ate them anyway. Don't do that.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/topic/6855bcaf-3fd9-4a90-8aa5-8fc96cd191d0/psa-for-the-gardening-allotment-growyourown-folks-this-sounds-ridiculous-but-is-100-true-i-promise.RSS for NodeSun, 12 Jul 2026 23:14:27 GMTSun, 12 Jul 2026 10:48:41 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to PSA for the #gardening #allotment #GrowYourOwn folks: this sounds ridiculous but is 100% true I promise. on Sun, 12 Jul 2026 17:39:33 GMT]]>@NatureMC I don't think this source is very reliable as they are economically invested in their customers not saving their own seed. The fact is cucurbitacin inheritance is not very well understood. Some theories say it is controlled by one dominant gene, other theories say it is a combination of several recessive genes. The article gives me vibes by giving the vague impression that all kinds of C. pepo crossings are potentially dangerous, which is a bit of a stretch @afewbugs

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://radikal.social/users/malte/statuses/116908226868757535https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://radikal.social/users/malte/statuses/116908226868757535Sun, 12 Jul 2026 17:39:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA for the #gardening #allotment #GrowYourOwn folks: this sounds ridiculous but is 100% true I promise. on Sun, 12 Jul 2026 17:31:45 GMT]]>@afewbugs It's one of the most valuable roles in any society.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://beige.party/users/RolloTreadway/statuses/116908196197855725https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://beige.party/users/RolloTreadway/statuses/116908196197855725Sun, 12 Jul 2026 17:31:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA for the #gardening #allotment #GrowYourOwn folks: this sounds ridiculous but is 100% true I promise. on Sun, 12 Jul 2026 17:26:47 GMT]]>@afewbugs I mean, this kind of knowledge is probably why the sourdough friend messaged you...

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://toot.community/users/fak/statuses/116908176656760675https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://toot.community/users/fak/statuses/116908176656760675Sun, 12 Jul 2026 17:26:47 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA for the #gardening #allotment #GrowYourOwn folks: this sounds ridiculous but is 100% true I promise. on Sun, 12 Jul 2026 17:25:06 GMT]]>@afewbugs You're doing god's work.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mcr.wtf/users/nordicnefilim/statuses/116908170081810606https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mcr.wtf/users/nordicnefilim/statuses/116908170081810606Sun, 12 Jul 2026 17:25:06 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA for the #gardening #allotment #GrowYourOwn folks: this sounds ridiculous but is 100% true I promise. on Sun, 12 Jul 2026 17:22:17 GMT]]>Honestly with this and the guy who messaged me to ask if he could eat his mouldy sourdough yesterday I'm starting to wonder if my main role in friendships is to endeavour to stop my friends giving themselves explosive diarrhea

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.coop/users/afewbugs/statuses/116908159007685094https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.coop/users/afewbugs/statuses/116908159007685094Sun, 12 Jul 2026 17:22:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA for the #gardening #allotment #GrowYourOwn folks: this sounds ridiculous but is 100% true I promise. on Sun, 12 Jul 2026 16:53:36 GMT]]>@nic dw i'n cytuno. I have absolutely no idea if if one courgette is like that all the other others on the plant will be too, but it can't hurt to lick slices and find out

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.coop/users/afewbugs/statuses/116908046156288636https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.coop/users/afewbugs/statuses/116908046156288636Sun, 12 Jul 2026 16:53:36 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA for the #gardening #allotment #GrowYourOwn folks: this sounds ridiculous but is 100% true I promise. on Sun, 12 Jul 2026 15:47:56 GMT]]>@afewbugs Diolch Jules, I wonder if it's worth tasting a thin slice of each squash before cooking them? It'd be a shame to waste a whole vat of soup (like the one I've just made) if there's just one bad courgette in there

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://toot.wales/users/nic/statuses/116907787999574968https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://toot.wales/users/nic/statuses/116907787999574968Sun, 12 Jul 2026 15:47:56 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA for the #gardening #allotment #GrowYourOwn folks: this sounds ridiculous but is 100% true I promise. on Sun, 12 Jul 2026 15:28:51 GMT]]>@snoopy_jay I have no idea what could have killed any guy anywhere 10 yrs ago, sorry ... 😉
We talk about this toxin: https://www.health.com/cucurbitacin-poisoning-zucchini-gourds-8748942?__cf_chl_f_tk=07viKiGo4hMqPJq4YJ9cRhNXdy6m_C6OuWAMk.wezyc-1783870757-1.0.1.1-KWlGbg2E2y3qklSfKvxwtPIgg5y9JlZey51POnVB1.U

@malte @afewbugs

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.online/users/NatureMC/statuses/116907712960187115https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.online/users/NatureMC/statuses/116907712960187115Sun, 12 Jul 2026 15:28:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA for the #gardening #allotment #GrowYourOwn folks: this sounds ridiculous but is 100% true I promise. on Sun, 12 Jul 2026 15:23:18 GMT]]>@malte Thanks for explaing it again, now I got your point! (My plural/slow understanding was caused by English being a foreign language for me).
I didn't know that it's so rare. Learned something new. In the material for gardener's exams in Germany, the students are warned quite strongly.

@afewbugs

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.online/users/NatureMC/statuses/116907691113740779https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.online/users/NatureMC/statuses/116907691113740779Sun, 12 Jul 2026 15:23:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA for the #gardening #allotment #GrowYourOwn folks: this sounds ridiculous but is 100% true I promise. on Sun, 12 Jul 2026 15:06:59 GMT]]>@NatureMC @malte @afewbugs Is it the same toxin that killed a guy here in Germany then? I was going to say "recently", but this seems to have been over 10 years ago 😬

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.world/users/snoopy_jay/statuses/116907626952998941https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.world/users/snoopy_jay/statuses/116907626952998941Sun, 12 Jul 2026 15:06:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA for the #gardening #allotment #GrowYourOwn folks: this sounds ridiculous but is 100% true I promise. on Sun, 12 Jul 2026 15:05:48 GMT]]>@NatureMC This repeats what I said. Which is that cross-pollination is limited to the species Cucurbita pepo (you said species in plural). I work professionally with Cucurbita breeding and stumble upon people taking this caution too far into saying that all Cucurbita crossing is potentially dangerous, which I think is misinformation. That's just the point I wanted to get in. @afewbugs

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://radikal.social/users/malte/statuses/116907622273561518https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://radikal.social/users/malte/statuses/116907622273561518Sun, 12 Jul 2026 15:05:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA for the #gardening #allotment #GrowYourOwn folks: this sounds ridiculous but is 100% true I promise. on Sun, 12 Jul 2026 13:57:29 GMT]]>@afewbugs Toxic Squash Syndrome formed the basis of a storyline in at last year's fête (or was it the Food and Produce?). @WCOW

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://justfollow.me.uk/users/sborrill/statuses/116907353670854544https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://justfollow.me.uk/users/sborrill/statuses/116907353670854544Sun, 12 Jul 2026 13:57:29 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA for the #gardening #allotment #GrowYourOwn folks: this sounds ridiculous but is 100% true I promise. on Sun, 12 Jul 2026 13:24:00 GMT]]>@malte Professional seed producers in France e.g. protect plants from pollinators coming from outside, a method which is not so practicable in gardens. https://www.zollinger.bio/en/blog/garden-care-9/cross-pollination-in-the-cucurbit-family-169

@afewbugs

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.online/users/NatureMC/statuses/116907221982819324https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.online/users/NatureMC/statuses/116907221982819324Sun, 12 Jul 2026 13:24:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA for the #gardening #allotment #GrowYourOwn folks: this sounds ridiculous but is 100% true I promise. on Sun, 12 Jul 2026 13:13:18 GMT]]>@malte It depends on the country, beside the non-eatable species for decorations, exist also wild forms: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cucurbita_pepo (where I live, we can have crosspollination with wild zucchini).

It's enough if s'o grows such species in your street.
Of course, crosspollination is rarer than the effects of plant stress like heat/drought. Of course, it's easy to taste the toxin (if you are able to taste bitter!). But better paying attention because the intoxication is dangerous.

@afewbugs

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.online/users/NatureMC/statuses/116907179948500054https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.online/users/NatureMC/statuses/116907179948500054Sun, 12 Jul 2026 13:13:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA for the #gardening #allotment #GrowYourOwn folks: this sounds ridiculous but is 100% true I promise. on Sun, 12 Jul 2026 12:59:53 GMT]]>@afewbugs yeah but what if I’m just built different?

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Crovanian/statuses/116907127163052076https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Crovanian/statuses/116907127163052076Sun, 12 Jul 2026 12:59:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA for the #gardening #allotment #GrowYourOwn folks: this sounds ridiculous but is 100% true I promise. on Sun, 12 Jul 2026 12:54:02 GMT]]>@NatureMC It's important to note that this practically only applies if someone is growing ornamental Cucurbits pepo close to where you grow your zucchini. Cucurbita pepo almost never crosses with the other species commonly grown. @afewbugs

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://radikal.social/users/malte/statuses/116907104186711425https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://radikal.social/users/malte/statuses/116907104186711425Sun, 12 Jul 2026 12:54:02 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA for the #gardening #allotment #GrowYourOwn folks: this sounds ridiculous but is 100% true I promise. on Sun, 12 Jul 2026 12:10:16 GMT]]>@NatureMC @afewbugs I’m feeling better about all the times I didn’t finish the zucchini because it tasted nasty.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://biodiversity.social/users/ClimateJenny/statuses/116906932048713740https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://biodiversity.social/users/ClimateJenny/statuses/116906932048713740Sun, 12 Jul 2026 12:10:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA for the #gardening #allotment #GrowYourOwn folks: this sounds ridiculous but is 100% true I promise. on Sun, 12 Jul 2026 12:00:01 GMT]]>@afewbugs And attention, it can happen even in cold climate: If you collect your own seeds, there's a danger of crosspollination with wild, non-edible species of cucurbitae, which also causes the toxin.
And yes, it's not at all ridiculous, the toxin can even destroy your liver and do more harm than only to hair. If you feel symptoms of the syndrome (you can search it), it's time for the hospital!

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.online/users/NatureMC/statuses/116906891796410723https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.online/users/NatureMC/statuses/116906891796410723Sun, 12 Jul 2026 12:00:01 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA for the #gardening #allotment #GrowYourOwn folks: this sounds ridiculous but is 100% true I promise. on Sun, 12 Jul 2026 11:29:08 GMT]]>@alyn climate change doesn't help either, squash didn't used to do this (at least regularly enough to be a problem for regular household growers) in the UK before the last five years or so.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.coop/users/afewbugs/statuses/116906770361383788https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.coop/users/afewbugs/statuses/116906770361383788Sun, 12 Jul 2026 11:29:08 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA for the #gardening #allotment #GrowYourOwn folks: this sounds ridiculous but is 100% true I promise. on Sun, 12 Jul 2026 11:24:44 GMT]]>@afewbugs
Thanks Jules. We've started on the journey of growing our own veg this year, and safety information like this seems hard to come by (except by direct experience, which is less than ideal!). Seems like there's little around at the intersection of "plant care" and "cookery".

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://wandering.shop/users/alyn/statuses/116906753017848825https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://wandering.shop/users/alyn/statuses/116906753017848825Sun, 12 Jul 2026 11:24:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA for the #gardening #allotment #GrowYourOwn folks: this sounds ridiculous but is 100% true I promise. on Sun, 12 Jul 2026 11:16:20 GMT]]>@afewbugs a couple reportedly died a few years ago in Germany after eating zucchini from their own garden.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://weirder.earth/users/j12i/statuses/116906719995062895https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://weirder.earth/users/j12i/statuses/116906719995062895Sun, 12 Jul 2026 11:16:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA for the #gardening #allotment #GrowYourOwn folks: this sounds ridiculous but is 100% true I promise. on Sun, 12 Jul 2026 11:06:12 GMT]]>@afewbugs I like bitter things - chicory, coffee - & hate waste, but bad courgettes had a nasty taste that earned them a place in the bin.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/CableSt/statuses/116906680147254715https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/CableSt/statuses/116906680147254715Sun, 12 Jul 2026 11:06:12 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA for the #gardening #allotment #GrowYourOwn folks: this sounds ridiculous but is 100% true I promise. on Sun, 12 Jul 2026 10:52:12 GMT]]>@afewbugs this heat and hosepipe bans are wiping me out this year. Emptied 6 waterbutts already (normally last the season) and everyday, everything looks wilted bt 11am . I am out of space for more waterbutts, so no idea what to do next year, or if I will get anything this year either

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://autistics.life/users/Aspiedan/statuses/116906625094980371https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://autistics.life/users/Aspiedan/statuses/116906625094980371Sun, 12 Jul 2026 10:52:12 GMT