Is this beauty edible ?

Hello. A few months ago, a squash literally sprouted from underneath my terrace. The only squash I personally planted where Butternuts and Sweet Dumpling, and so this can't be from seeds I've dropped.

Since some squash are inedible, I don't want to die killed by one of them. I'd rather be killed by a bear, that make a far better story; but here is a photo of said squash:



This beauty weight about 3kg.

So, do you think it is edible, or will I meet my ancestor if I try to cook it ?

It looks very much like a domesticated edible variety, possibly a hybrid that happened from one of your own plants, but honestly even domestic squash can cross and become inedible. I'd say your sense of taste is going to be key to figuring it out. If you cut a small piece and it is mild to sweet, it is edible. If it is bitter or unpleasant, it is one of the inedible varieties. The risk is mostly stomach upset and honestly the likelihood of eating enough to get badly sick is low since the bitter flavor that indicates the presence of toxins is also what will make you not want to keep eating. That being said, they recommend that you don't eat squash that spontaneously appear in your garden, so my advice is personal rather than a professional opinion. As with all things, proceed with caution and at your own risk.

I second Mike to make a taste test.
If it is not bitter, I would eat it.

I don't understand why it is advised not to eat spontaneously sprouting squash? It might not be super tasty but if you make the taste test there is no danger.
It could either be from a random seed (in a seed mix, or brought by an animal from a garden far off) or somebody in the neighbourhood had a cucurbita ficifolia as a rootstock for another variety that accidentally came to bloom.
To me it looks very much like one of the edible varieties but I am not a squash/pumpkin expert.

We hashed on this in some detail in another thread. There are one or two peculiar stories out there of people eating wildly bitter hybrid squashes to fatal excess, but the consensus ... or maybe it’s just my opinionated synthesis ... is that it’s difficult and would require epic stoicism on the part of the eater: https://permies.com/t/112682/Warning-zucchini-toxicity-eating-taste

I would add to the above suggestions, the taste test should be done by the person in your family with the most sensitive taste buds.

I say that because I have a nephew who can't taste bitterness, or most of the "toxin" flavors for that matter. This is a kid who eats raw garlic by the bulb, and complains that it's too mild. He has made himself sick on occasion, because he ate too much of something that should only be eaten sparingly. A jar of cloves. An entire potted rosemary Christmas tree. A bucket of raw elderberries. And not just when he was little, ether. He's in college now, and he's done things like that his whole life. If there's someone in your family who isn't all that sensitive to strong flavors, don't let them be the judge of whether this squash is bitter!

Dan Boone wrote:epic stoicism

I appled this for this phrase alone.  Outstanding sir.

I personally would eat it, and if it tasted good, I would save the seeds.  That's pretty much my philosophy for anything that grows at my place, whether planted or volunteer.  Volunteers especially are telling me they want to grow at my place.  Who could ask for more than that?

Trace Oswald wrote:
I personally would eat it, and if it tasted good, I would save the seeds.  That's pretty much my philosophy for anything that grows at my place, whether planted or volunteer.  Volunteers especially are telling me they want to grow at my place.  Who could ask for more than that?

Yes to that!

I remember one of the first times I visited my MIL's home in Argentina and I was delighted to find that the banana tree had set fruit that year. I tried some and needless to say, the bananas were far superior to any supermarket banana you can buy.
But when my MIL found out she scolded me, I should have told her if I wanted bananas and she would have bought some in the supermarket. She was sure I would get tummy ache or diarrhea from such "wild" fruit".
Everything not packaged, without conservants, additives etc. was considered suspicious. She changed her attitude later in life, also influenced by me - if you eat in my house you are sure to get homegrown veggies and fruit, plus homemade bread etc. She even came to cherish the goodies I would present her.

This is certainly a cultural thing influenced by the US.
Here in Germany foraging is normal (for berries, herbs, mushrooms). Sorry if anyone feels offended but this is clearly the impression I got (not only with regards to foraging but many other things).

maybe baked with a little butter and cinnamon?