prickly cucurbits deter deer

[diane]

I am disappointed to see that new cultivars are advertised as having smooth stems that make the fruit easier to pick.

It means that I must try to squeeze big plants in behind my deer fence, along with plants deer love to eat, like peas, tomatoes, lilies etc.

It's too bad there aren't more squash and cucumbers like Beit Alpha which is prickly enough it gets left alone.

[Joseph Lofthouse]

I harvested two squash fruits last year that had spines on the fruit. Felt really funny in the hand. And during storage, they collected dust bunnies! They were interspecies hybrids.

[diane]

Now, spiny fruit is a bit excessive.