Q: This squash plant volunteered near my backyard garden. I’ve grown straight neck, crooked neck, and zucchini squash, but never seen any like this. Can you tell me what kind/name this is? My wife prepared some like regular squash, and they were delicious.

A: Since it “volunteered”, that means the seed from which it sprouted this spring came from a squash that grew in your garden last year. It was pollinated back then by another member of the squash family which had round fruit. Combining the two gene pools produced offspring that looked like both parents.

Since your present fruit looks and tastes “almost normal”, there is no need to be worried. Fry up a big batch and enjoy them!