I just harvested my biggest zucchini ever and was really excited! After slicing it into spears and roasting them with salt, garlic powder, and onion powder, the dish was fantastic. However, shortly after eating, I started sweating uncontrollably, even though the room temperature was a comfy 87 degrees. Naturally, I rushed to Google and learned about curcurbitacin, a toxic compound that can sometimes be found in zucchini and other squash if they taste bitter. While my zucchini wasn't bitter and I calmed down after drinking some water, it got me thinking about the unexpected dangers of home gardening. Has anyone else experienced any toxic risks from their plants?
3 Answers
I had a bitter zucchini last year and it was a nightmare! Belly pain followed, and I'm glad I didn't end up in worse shape! My plant came from a friend's garden, and we think it had old characteristics that popped back up, which can happen with saved seeds. Always good to be vigilant!
I’ve just started growing zucchini too! Thanks for the heads up. Definitely going to be careful and avoid eating too much just in case. Didn't know about the toxicity risk before this!
Yeah, I totally get the panic! I learned about curcurbitacin recently too and it's crazy how something so tasty can turn dangerous. I've always hated bitter cucumbers but I didn't realize they could be toxic! Now I’m going to be more cautious when eating my home-grown veggies.
Right? It's like nature's way of saying 'don't eat me!' That bitter taste is a serious warning.