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MiHale

(9,715 posts)
Mon Aug 23, 2021, 08:42 AM Aug 2021

Need 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 it’s 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 it’s 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 don’t grow those (we should) so I don’t know what a “baby” acorn may look like.

Help!

24 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Need help identifying this... (Original Post) MiHale Aug 2021 OP
My advice: don't go to sleep! zuul Aug 2021 #1
Louder...I'm running away as fast as I can! MiHale Aug 2021 #6
Looks like acorn squash. Bluethroughu Aug 2021 #2
Compost is mainly used to get rid of biomass... MiHale Aug 2021 #5
Ah... Bluethroughu Aug 2021 #20
I've grown round yellow summer squash, but don't remember the name of it, they looked like this: chia Aug 2021 #3
I used Google lens to try to identify... MiHale Aug 2021 #7
Well, there are round zucchini too. I hope you come back and update when they're ripe! chia Aug 2021 #10
Found that out... MiHale Aug 2021 #11
Wow those are so cute, never seen those before. Bluethroughu Aug 2021 #21
They were so, so good, very tender skin, very bright and fresh flavor, would def grow again! chia Aug 2021 #22
I will try next year ! Bluethroughu Aug 2021 #23
Happy gardening! :) chia Aug 2021 #24
Could be an accidental hybrid Wicked Blue Aug 2021 #4
Looks like acorns, but there are so many varieties out there.. TreasonousBastard Aug 2021 #8
Thx my thinking too but... MiHale Aug 2021 #9
Love delicatas! I like to cut them in half, fill the halves with... TreasonousBastard Aug 2021 #12
No gotta look for that...love sweet potatoes. MiHale Aug 2021 #13
likely this. the whole family mopinko Aug 2021 #14
I'll get around to asking some local farmers in a week or so. I tried growing... TreasonousBastard Aug 2021 #15
probably squash beetles. mopinko Aug 2021 #16
Could be. There were tunnels, though, so I figured a critter. TreasonousBastard Aug 2021 #17
Keep an eye on it - you never know packman Aug 2021 #18
... MiHale Aug 2021 #19

zuul

(14,624 posts)
1. My advice: don't go to sleep!
Mon Aug 23, 2021, 08:47 AM
Aug 2021

“They’re here already! They’re here already! You’re next!”

Bluethroughu

(5,152 posts)
2. Looks like acorn squash.
Mon Aug 23, 2021, 08:50 AM
Aug 2021

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

(9,715 posts)
5. Compost is mainly used to get rid of biomass...
Mon Aug 23, 2021, 09:08 AM
Aug 2021

For in the garden mulching I use Comfrey which I grow in huge bunches and straw.

chia

(2,244 posts)
3. I've grown round yellow summer squash, but don't remember the name of it, they looked like this:
Mon Aug 23, 2021, 08:51 AM
Aug 2021


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

(9,715 posts)
7. I used Google lens to try to identify...
Mon Aug 23, 2021, 09:12 AM
Aug 2021

and it came up with results that look like those green ones.

MiHale

(9,715 posts)
11. Found that out...
Mon Aug 23, 2021, 09:35 AM
Aug 2021

Gotta try rounds next year. Getting closer…could be a baby Delicata squash haven’t grown them in a couple years but…

I will update

chia

(2,244 posts)
22. They were so, so good, very tender skin, very bright and fresh flavor, would def grow again!
Mon Aug 23, 2021, 02:59 PM
Aug 2021

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

Wicked Blue

(5,831 posts)
4. Could be an accidental hybrid
Mon Aug 23, 2021, 08:59 AM
Aug 2021

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)
8. Looks like acorns, but there are so many varieties out there..
Mon Aug 23, 2021, 09:21 AM
Aug 2021

that you don't know unless it's your seed. Could be an oddball Hubbard.

MiHale

(9,715 posts)
9. Thx my thinking too but...
Mon Aug 23, 2021, 09:28 AM
Aug 2021

I thought I’d 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)
12. Love delicatas! I like to cut them in half, fill the halves with...
Mon Aug 23, 2021, 09:37 AM
Aug 2021

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.

mopinko

(70,077 posts)
14. likely this. the whole family
Mon Aug 23, 2021, 09:51 AM
Aug 2021

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)
15. I'll get around to asking some local farmers in a week or so. I tried growing...
Mon Aug 23, 2021, 09:58 AM
Aug 2021

a few varieties years ago, but moles, or some critter, got in there and started eating the roots. Everything died.

mopinko

(70,077 posts)
16. probably squash beetles.
Mon Aug 23, 2021, 09:59 AM
Aug 2021

they lay their eggs when the plant is small, then the larvae chew their way out.

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