Black squash?

[Terriffids]

I've attempted to grow veg from seed this year with varying results. Only one of my squash seeds reached the stage of being able to be planted outside.

Today I've noticed there is one 'squash' growing, it's about the size of a tennis ball but it's completely black. Is this normal? The leaves look healthy and I can't see any obvious problem with it.

What variety is it?

@LemonViolet, I've no idea, sorry. I threw out the sachet when I'd finished sowing. Are some varieties meant to be black?

They come in all sorts of shapes and colours, striped, the lot. So a black one wouldn't be out of the question.

I have just Googled images of 'ornamental gourds' - golly, well I never!

I think a lot that are dark green might start looking black. They can change colour a lot as they mature. There is one called “Black Futsu” but I haven’t grown it myself so don’t know how black it really is! But you get grey ones, almost blueish ones, I don’t think proper black is out of the question.

Mystery black squash is exciting! You’ll have to keep us updated. Do you have a photo?

Wow, thank you so much. Just goes to show how much I need to learn, I had no idea there were black ones. I'll take a photo and try and upload it.

Many thanks

I am excited now, I want to see the squash !

We’ll all be after seeds if it turns out black when it grows up!

@LemonViolet, @ahoyshipmates, @yamadori, @SirVixofVixHall

Here it is. It looks more dark green in the photo but in reality it definitely looks black.

That’s looking really healthy, I don’t think you need worry about it

Agree looks like it's growing really well and black squash is definitely a thing. In a few weeks I would put an old tile or similar underneath it to keep it off the soil, prevents rotting.

It looks very dark green to me. I've grown courgettes that colour.

Sorry 🤦🏻‍♀️ just saw you said that. Looks like a healthy plant and an interesting squash.

Thanks everyone. It does look healthy but it's just not the colour I was expecting. It does look dark green in the photo but it definitely looks black irl, in the shade and in the sun.

Thanks for the tip about the tile, that makes sense now you say it.

I've looked by through my notes (I can't do anything without notes) and the only squash seeds I planted this year were Johnsons Squash (Summer) Sunburst F1.

Johnson's describe them as 'bright yellow scallop fruit' and there is no mention of them starting off black and changing colour.

I'm starting to wonder if perhaps it was a rogue seed from another variety.

Highly likely that the colour will change as it develops. Looks very healthy though

Looks great !