Unripe melons/winter squash....vines killed by frost

[emulkahi1]

Hello All--

I was wondering if anyone could tell me about this issue. It dropped to the mid-high 20's the other night, which froze my melon and winter squash vines even though I had them covered. A # of them were ready to be picked, and I'm good to go w/ those. But, can anyone tell me if the unripe melons (musk and water melon) and winter squash (buttercup, red kuri, spaghetti and bottle gourds) can be used in any way? For example, like green tomatoes can be fried, or used in chutneys, etc. I am imagining the unripe ones will not be long-term keepers, as they'd probably spoil faster?

Some of the melons are bigger than a softball already, but a few are still small...baseball sized. It just seems like such a waste to just compost them. I guess there's always the option of cutting them in half and giving them to the chickens....

Anyway, thanks for your help!!

Erin

[indianheadranch]

thats it livestock food, now squash are good fried when very small, too grown big they seem tough to me when fried,

[KIT.S]

I have a fancy pickling book that has a recipe for pickling cantalope or melons, and it calls for just-barely-ripe fruit. If you'd like the recipe, let me know, and I'll get it to you. You can also can melon if you have too much, or freeze it. I guess it all would depend on if they're actually edible at the size they are now.
Kit

[ronbre]

unripe winter squash can be used like summer squash i do believe..as for the melons and cukes..i don't think so..but animals will eat them if left outside..sometimes..they are chewing on my baby melons..i picked the ripe ones but the others are deer feed

[paintlady]

The squash will ripen but the melons won't. Pick the squash and keep them in a dry place to cure and ripen. Make sure to leave about two inches of the stems on them- otherwise they may rot.