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Mysterious Curcurbits

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  • #1

    Mysterious Curcurbits

    Now that's a title...OK so here's what's happened. Because I have a small space I'm usually very aware of what's growing where, b/c I planted it...but this year some mysterious curcurbit seedlings have been popping up all over my plot/containers. Which is strangely distressing, b/c I haven't got ROOM for them all, yet am still so new to this that it pains me to pull any of them out.
    I'm wondering if they've grown from seeds from shop-bought squash put on in the compost bin - has anyone else experienced this? And if so, any suggestions about how to a)tell what kind they are, and b)what to do now...I've pulled out a few of the runtiest ones, but am wondering if I should just count my lucky curcurbits and let them grow, or if they're taking vital nutrients from my patch and I should sacrifice all but a couple...
    Let me know what you think. As always, I bow to the experience of wiser grapes, and feel amazed gratitude that this incredible Vine exists at all...
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  • #2
    they are from your shop bought squash, but unless they themselves were grown in a massive field with no other curcurbits near them [highly likely though] then they won't grow true to type because they are almost the sluts of the cross pollinating brigade.
    they're taking nutrients especially if you only have a small space. I have loads growing in the compost from a half rotten pumpkin I had to bin [experiment on how long they would keep] i keep pulling them out when I see them.

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    • #3
      Like Taff, I would be ruthless and pull them out. I have a similar problem with tomato plants growing from my homemade compost and I haven't composted tomato seeds for a good 2 years!
      Granny on the Game in Sheffield

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      • #4
        I've consigned myself to the ignorant but now elightened corner. I have just discovered that this class of plant is cucurbit and not cucumbit as i have thought for years and years and years.

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        • #5
          ^ lol at AB. Cucumbit sounds more likely doesn't it? Like restauranteur instead of the correct restaurateur
          All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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          • #6
            Sniff, I hate being laughed at and I fessed up too. Yups, I probably was thinking cucumber like which would be more likely but then this is the English language which is somewhat unpredictable

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            • #7
              I once deliberately sowed the seeds of a shop bought Carnival squash and got a reasonable haul of the same next year. They can come true. It depends on how many squashes you can eat, really!
              Whoever plants a garden believes in the future.

              www.vegheaven.blogspot.com Updated March 9th - Spring

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              • #8
                completely agree, they should be curcumbits. but I do like saying curcurbits (to myself, silently, at night while I'm on this forum...slightly weird).
                Oho, so this is a common mysterious seedling - Florence and Taff, I'll rip them up as you suggest, if I can bear to...ow. And you're right, they'll be strange, at best.
                Flummery, I can eat a fair few. Jamie O may be irritating but he does have a good squash recipe...
                Last edited by BroadRipple; 18-07-2011, 09:00 PM.

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by BroadRipple View Post
                  completely agree, they should be curcumbits. but I do like saying curcurbits (to myself, silently, at night while I'm on this forum...slightly weird).
                  Oho, so this is a common mysterious seedling - Florence and Taff, I'll rip them up as you suggest, if I can bear to...ow. And you're right, they'll be strange, at best.
                  weirdo!!!
                  well, you could leave one or two if there's room...be a shame not to see what happens
                  if you bought from a large shop, as i said, it is likely they'll come true, because they're not likely to have bought from a small supplier, and there's less chance of cross pollination. unless they're butternuts, in which case, forget it, it's probably too late for them.

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                  • #10
                    I don't find Jamie irritating in the slightest, he's a lovely boy and he can cook. Wonder what he calls them?
                    Last edited by Florence Fennel; 19-07-2011, 07:43 AM.
                    Granny on the Game in Sheffield

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                    • #11
                      Cucurbitth. (Naughty Flum!)
                      Whoever plants a garden believes in the future.

                      www.vegheaven.blogspot.com Updated March 9th - Spring

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