Volunteer Cucurbita

[Jim Elbrecht]

any guesses on what I've got here?

Leaf, blossom, 'overall' and a tiny fruit photo.

The fruit is kind of egg shaped today-- but the blossom hasn't even opened yet.

It volunteered early this spring on a pile of sod and topsoil next to my compost bin. I *suspect* it could be from a wintermelon or a squash from the Asian store.

I *did* grow a Tahitian Squash last year, but I don't remember the leaves being so big-- It does have the *spirit* of the Tahitian as it is headed across the garden at a rapid pace.

Jim

[Ecnerwal]

Based on a sample of three, and allowing for the fact that one catalog/county/person's squash is another's pumpkin, it resembles the pumpkin I'm currently growing (Kakai - hulless seeds) more than the squash or melon I'm growing. Which is nearly worthless, but you get what you pay for sometimes.

I had to delve into hand pollination - the bees were not doing it, and the squash bugs evidently don't offer that service along with their more detrimental aspects, despite being in all the flowers. I'v seen a bee or two about, but the micro-fruits were just rotting off the vine until I started pollinating.

[Pat Kiewicz]

>Leaf, blossom, 'overall' and a tiny fruit photo.

Not a C. maxima squash (the stem is wrong). Could be a 'pepper' squash (C. pepo) which includes the classic Jack o' Lantern pumpkins as well as a host of other varieties, including the summer squashes. The blossom in the picture looks very much like a classic pumpkin.

No, I think the leaves of that would be more cucumber- or luffa- sized and smaller than the Tahitian squash leaves rather than larger.

No clue there...

Tathitian squash is C. moschata, which would have a similar stem to the one in the picture. Not all C. moshata are 'butternut' shaped, but I don't recall the 'cheese wheel' types starting out so... pumpkin-y.

[The Cook]

If the seeds were from a hybrid vegetable you will most likely get one or more of the parent plants.

[Bloke Down The Pub]

I look at these pictures and try and take a guess then sit back and see who agrees with me and why. Often those that disagree are correct but I make a point of noting why. The main thing I get from this is volunteers make life interesting.

Mike

[Farm1]

If that plant grew near my compost heap or out of where I'd spread some of my always cold composted stuff, I'd say it was a 'pumpkin' or what Nth Americans would call a 'winter squash'. I suspect the best guess you'll get here is that it is indeed a member of the cucurbit family.

Could you report back please as it develops?