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RogueRose
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ID Mystery Plant from Compost

I've had a couple of these things growing in my compost. I took one and transplanted it, hoping I'd get some flowers or something. Not yet, but it's growing. I turned the compost and lost some but another one is growing in there again. Grows super fast....

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Lindsaylew82
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Looks like a cucumber!
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These were mine.
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Lindsaylew82
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The more I look, the more I think cantaloupe!!!
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RogueRose
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Yeah I have gotten cucumber from someone else. But the thing is I didn't put any cucumber stuff in there til about a day or two before the vines started growing. I have a juicer so I do put the left over pulp in there. Stuff I have put in:

honeydew
watermelon
pineapple
orange
lemon
lime
strawberries
beets
carrots
pears
apples
cucumber

So of those.....who knows, lol. Like I said the cucumber was added pretty late. I keep waiting for it to FLOWER so I can get some idea. No cigar!
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Lindsaylew82
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Was it a store bought cucumber? Maybe it stayed on the shelf for a long time and was really mature, with germinating seeds inside.

I could see honeydew. Its either that or cucumber. I'm thinking probably honeydew because the leaf shape is more round. It's definitely not watermelon. Wrong shape all together. Nothing else on that list matches the leaf shape.
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RogueRose
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Lindsaylew82 wrote:Was it a store bought cucumber? Maybe it stayed on the shelf for a long time and was really mature, with germinating seeds inside.

I could see honeydew. Its either that or cucumber. I'm thinking probably honeydew because the leaf shape is more round. It's definitely not watermelon. Wrong shape all together. Nothing else on that list matches the leaf shape.
I think it was a store-bought cucumber. I also got a cucumber from my neighbor from her garden. But I am 80% sure I didn't use that one before this sprouted up.

Hopefully I'll get some flowers and/or fruit so it can show us it's true identity!
catgrass
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Are the leaves smooth or prickly? If smooth, try looking at air potato-I don't know it's "real" name. I know that they can be in the ground for a long time, and when everything is right-they'll sprout and grow like crazy.
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RogueRose
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catgrass wrote:Are the leaves smooth or prickly? If smooth, try looking at air potato-I don't know it's "real" name. I know that they can be in the ground for a long time, and when everything is right-they'll sprout and grow like crazy.
The leaves are smooth. The stems are what I would call "hairy"
catgrass
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Mmm, cucumber and melon leaves are kinda prickly. My first thought when I saw it was Morning Glory, but you say the stems have little hairs on them, and morning glory does not. It could be a melon cross, but again, I would think the leaves would be prickly.'
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Lindsaylew82
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My cucumber leaves aren't prickly, but they do have some far spaced very fine hairs. They have fuzzy stems, too!

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RogueRose
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It's raining right now but I'll try to get some up close pics of the leaves and stems. The leaves are round like the cucumber....still no flowers and it's been a month I think! Sheesh
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applestar
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The anticipation is killing me and it's not even my plant! :lol:
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Lindsaylew82
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The anticipation is killing me and it's not even my plant!
Ditto!!! :-() :clap:

It'll probably get males before females!
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RogueRose
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It's been killing me and all it's been doing is growing for 4 weeks! Sheesh!
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Lindsaylew82
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Any positive ID yet?
valley
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How about a Sweet potato a climbing sweet potato from Mars!
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Last edited by valley on Tue Sep 02, 2014 9:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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RogueRose
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I wish I could say we got buds or fruit....................................but it still just keeps growing!!!
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RogueRose
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FINALLY GOT FLOWERS!!! IT'S A CUCUMBER!!!!

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applestar
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Great! I think there's still enough time before frost for you to enjoy a good harvest. :D
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Lindsaylew82
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I already miss cucumbers....congrats on your volunteer!!!
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RogueRose
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Okay..............................

IT IS NOT A CUCUMBER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(((but I do know what it is)))

Anyone want to guess before I tell you? :) FUN GAME!
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applestar
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Aw c'mon! We need a hint! 8)
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RogueRose
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applestar wrote:Aw c'mon! We need a hint! 8)
You got all the hints you need! Stems, leaves, both male and female flowers................
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applestar
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I'm stumped... And looks like so are the others?

Only possible reference I've found so far is Kiwano: The Horned Melon

...did you buy one of those and throw out the green seeds in the compost :?:
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RogueRose
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applestar wrote:I'm stumped... And looks like so are the others?

Only possible reference I've found so far is Kiwano: The Horned Melon

...did you buy one of those and throw out the green seeds in the compost :?:
DING DING DING! You are correct!

I did buy one at one point....but I never remember putting it in the compost. I tried it and though EWWW because I don't like bananas and threw it out. Now it's taking over a corner of my garden!!
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Lindsaylew82
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Rose, did you get a ripe one from your plant?

We recently purchased a dragon fruit from the grocery store, and my daughter thought it was GREAT fun to eat something so exotic looking! I think she would enjoy watching these grow!


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