Question
picture of mystery veg
Hey,
I'm hoping you can please help me! I began renting a house recently, and my roommate and I joked about these funny vines we had. Now, these vines are loaded with vegetables. I mean loaded! The vines went into the road behind our house and I was trying to push them back towards the house so the cars wouldn't run the vegetables over and ruin them.
I have never gardened before, but I absolutely hate waste. I don't want whatever this is to go to waste, but I have no idea how to harvest or anything. It seems the plant is definitly thriving on its own though without my intervention, which is good.
Here is a description of the plant, I'll try to make it as detailed as possible:
- Light orange flowers that open and shut, though it doesn't seem to happen in any regulated time span. Sometimes I come home from work and they are shut, and sometimes they are open.
- The plant is a vine that has very large leaves. When I moved the vine earlier to try and save it from the cars, it didn't hurt me but felt very uncomfortable against my skin.
- There are many different vegetables, some small and some large. They appear to be in different stages of maturity. The vegetable is dark green, and widens a bit towards the bottom.
I have been on the internet forever trying to figure out what this plant is because I can't tell if I'm supposed to pick these vegetables or anything. I also wondered if it was bad for me to move it like that, but I guess if it's going to get run over by cars theres no other choice, right?
Considering how its growing, and that I plan to live in this house for a while, I would just like to know the proper way to move it and control its growth. It hasn't picked the best spot to grow in. It's growing along the outside of my fence to my backyard, which is right up against my back alleyway. Any tips you may have on getting this plant to grow side by side, like along the fence rather than outward, would be great. It only has about two feet of space outward from this fence before the cars get it.
i would greatly appreciate anything you could tell me about this plant. i'm very excited over having inherited a plant that is in such full bloom, though i have never had anything like this before... i dont even have house plants!!
Maybe this will be a new thing for me, who knows. But once again thanks for anything you can tell me about it!
Sincerely,
Heather
AnswerHeather,
This looks like a squash that has crossed. And it looks too large to be gourds, which are poison. Squash is my favorite vegetable and I grow many kinds, but this one is not fully familiar. From the description and picture I would hazard these guesses. I think it could be 1. An acorn and zucchini or butternut cross. 2. Spaghetti squash and acorn. 3. Spaghetti or zucchini. It could even be a squash and pumpkin cross, but that would show signs of orange soon.
I'm sorry I can't be more specific, but squash are quite prone to cross pollination, in close proximity or windy situations. I've even had them cross with cucumbers. Now, as to your plan to not waste, here's a couple of suggestions.
Since you have an abundance, of them, pick a large one and cut it in half. Remove the seeds and bake it for about an hour. Check the flesh with a fork. If it has a consistency that is kind of thready or stringy, I'd guess some spaghetti squash presence. If it's more like the texture of a sweet potato, then I'd suggest it's part acorn or butternut. All of which are delicious. I actually use spaghetti squash as I would pasta and acorn or butternut I add a tad of butter and brown sugar.
The other suggestion, although it could cost you much of the crop is to see if they begin to change colors. If the green lightens up or an orange spot appears, that would be an indication of ripening.
I think you've been blessed with a virtual gold mine of squash, although the type may remain a mystery. I'm envious . . . I had to plant mine. (smile)
Take care and enjoy.
Kind Regards,
KD
www.eingedi.us
