@Lizzie
I might try one as a matter of interest but I think it is probably going to taste a bit old and woody.
The frustrating thing is Lizzie, I thought I was planting Zucchini's (the plants look the same) ....that's what they were labelled as and I felt dudded when the flowers came to nothing. Mind you Zucchini's do the same thing, if you don't pick them when they are at the size you want they just keep on growing until you need a block and tackle and a wheelbarrow to move them!!
Lizzie, I know the colder months are not great for gardening in the UK but, during the colder months here we grow our vegies in a 2m2 plastic greenhouse and put an old Gilseal heat lamp in there for a couple of hours a day with a misting system.
If you use it properly and not focus it directly on the plants over exposing them to UV, but just use it as a general heat source they do really well with it
Of course its no good for Pumpkins and those plants that spread out but we get Iceberg and Coz lettuces, carrots, cherry tomatoes, brocolli all through the winter, and it's great for getting our spring garden plantings going!
Ours is dismantled for summer just now but this is the model and what it looks like. They are cheap, I think they could be purchased in the UK for about 60 pounds for one this size.
If you love gardening Lizzie, it could be a winter solution for you.
Cheers......Rob