Gardening
Related: About this forumNeed help identifying this...
This year the compost pile has been treating us to unintended plants. We received a compost-a-loupe, no fruit yet but a beautiful plant. We also got a bunch of roma tomatoes can always use those.
But this one has us positively flummoxed. This plant of which I only show the fruit looks exactly like a zucchini plant since we grow lots of zucchini it seemed a normal thing. The strange thing is its outside of the pile, couple feet away. We let it grow cuz, why not?
Well the fruit came out looking like a little round ball, small ping-pong ball size. ????
As its getting older this is what we have. We only grow Black Beauty zucchini which is a heirloom variety. Looks little like an acorn squash, we dont grow those (we should) so I dont know what a baby acorn may look like.
Help!
zuul
(14,677 posts)Theyre here already! Theyre here already! Youre next!
MiHale
(10,959 posts)Bluethroughu
(6,141 posts)I grow summer squash and it grows like the zucchini small to large not in a ball.
I will never spread compost around my garden ever again. I tried it for the first time this year and it made a mess of my garden.
I usually only use natural mulch, and had way better results.
MiHale
(10,959 posts)For in the garden mulching I use Comfrey which I grow in huge bunches and straw.
Thanks for the info. My garden was nuts this year, because I used my garden compost...
chia
(2,421 posts)and they were delicious. Mild flavor, thin skins. But yours looks a little more elongated.
It'll be interesting to see if your squash changes color as it ripens, and whether the skin toughens and thickens.
MiHale
(10,959 posts)and it came up with results that look like those green ones.
chia
(2,421 posts)MiHale
(10,959 posts)Gotta try rounds next year. Getting closer
could be a baby Delicata squash havent grown them in a couple years but
I will update
Bluethroughu
(6,141 posts)I love squash bread with any fruit added.
chia
(2,421 posts)I probably got the from Baker's Creek Heirloom Seeds, it's been a couple years but that's where I've gotten a lot of my seeds.
https://www.rareseeds.com
Bluethroughu
(6,141 posts)Thank you.
chia
(2,421 posts)Wicked Blue
(6,862 posts)Squashes and pumpkins can crossbreed. We had a squash-pumpkin plant pop up in the garden two years ago. It tasted wonderful when we roasted it. It's mild enough in Maryland that the seeds can overwinter in the yard and sprout in late spring.
TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)that you don't know unless it's your seed. Could be an oddball Hubbard.
MiHale
(10,959 posts)I thought Id take a shot at identifying here. The fun will keep on. Mystery plants are fun to work with. Last squash (hard skin) we grew was a Delicata, couple years ago but maybe?
Edited to add
thanks for the direction push TB. looked up Delicata and the babies are similar.
TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)something good, stick 'em in the oven or nuke and enjoy. I do the same with acorns.
Fall the farm stands around here are loaded with squash, and every yesr new stuff shows up.
Ever tried sweet potato squash? That's exactly what it tastes like.
MiHale
(10,959 posts)mopinko
(72,051 posts)crosses easily. i think 30' between varieties is the rec. but depends on what's around and how busy the bees are.
TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)a few varieties years ago, but moles, or some critter, got in there and started eating the roots. Everything died.
mopinko
(72,051 posts)they lay their eggs when the plant is small, then the larvae chew their way out.