Grow Your Own Magazine

Hi all,
I came across 4 strong seedlings growing in my compost heap from discarded pips/seeds. They looked very healthy so I planted them up. They are now getting pretty big but I'm still not sure what they are.
Any ideas?

The second picture looks like some kind of squash perhaps? Couldn't tell you what though as it looks a bit like my pumpkin, but my butternut squash looked the same last year too....

That's my suggestion...!

I would say its some kind of pumpkin, squash or marrow.

You are right Slug. Either courgette, squash, pumpkin or marrow.

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Thanks for those suggestions.
I had hoped that it was a butternut squash, but it was looking more and more like my cucumbers.
If it is a squash do you think it might produce fruit?

It should do. It looks as if there is a flower bud on it.

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Exciting! The most fun is seeing what mystery plants you get out of the compost. I hope you'll keep us informed. As you're in Berkshire there's plenty of time before the frost for it to fruit. Looks like a winter squash and a trailer so has probably come from Butternut but you could get anything as they're all cross bred. Those leaves look dark and blueish so you might get a Crown Prince. Yumm......

Ever see the little shop of horrors ?

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ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

ROTFL
If it needs frequent feeding or sings, I'd say find a power outlet !

It doesn't look like cucumber, and I don't think it's courgette either (not comparing it to my courgette anyway) as it looks like it's running along/trailing. I think you've either got butternut squash or some sort of pumpkin.

Have you been eating butternut squash and putting the seeds in the compost? If so.... perhaps you got lucky and you've a butternut squash plant

Hi Caroline - if they are squash, and you want a super recipe to use them up - go to in the kitchen, season to taste, super recipe. Squash and carrot casserole - its my favourite way of using squash and is delicious! dexterdog

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Appreciate the little things in life because one day you will realise they are the big things

Thanks dexterdoflancashire, I'll check that out if it does fruit .

I've definitely had butternut squash and the seeds did go in the compost. It didn't even occur to me that they might be viable (not sure why not ).
Really looking forward to any fruit they might produce .

No power required as my singing would kill it off no problem

I've had butternut squash seeds germinating while INSIDE the butternut squash that I bought in the supermarket! I'd say they'll definitely grow in the compost if given the right conditions!

My compost bin is boring.... it just composts everything very well.... no exciting mystery plants for me

Hadn't thought of it as a failure of my compost making skills but as it's my first year and first load of compost I took it as a win win .

Mystery plants! How exciting. I always find avocado stones germinate well in the compost bin. I used to put all that effort into suspending them over water with cocktail sticks and never get anywhere. Now just chuck them in the compost and wait for nature to take its course.

I also get whole forests of pepper sprouts in my can-o-worms. It doesn't seem to bother the worms at all! I just uproot them every now and again and leave them in there for the worms to eat.

Like you Fox Hill Gardener, I get avocado stones germinating! Probably couldn't germinate them if I tried under normal circumstances.

Have you ever done anything with a sprouting avocado? I'd be interested to know as I'm very tempted to keep the next sprouter and see what happens....!

I pot them up and keep them as houseplants for a while. They have big, impressive-looking leaves, but can suffer a bit in the dry air indoors. Nice picture here
http://home.vtown.com.au/~dbellamy/kids/avocado.html

They get quite tall and leggy so either remember to pinch them out or when they start to fall over all the time, have a root around in the compost bin for another one!

Thanks Fox Hill Gardener - might have to give it a go next time. Shame no fruit though eh

Imagine that, growing your own avocados! I expect Bob Flowerdew has given it a go.

I shoved a load in various pots last year then forgot about them . Sadly we didn't realise what they were when we were clearing the pots and mistook them for weeds. I only managed to save one when I spotted the stone. Got that one doing well though.