So yes, a month ago I said, “enough is enough, I am sick of looking at you” and told my husband it must be moved. He did look at me a little sideways though as I know he thought that could only mean more work for him. I assured him it was not going to be a large move, just across the yard and up the ridge where the notorious Scotch broom once resided (and is attempting its return I might add).
Now that the compost has settled in to its new home (and I am not too sure if I like it there either…just please don’t mention this to my husband) I am faced with this sort of humus and worm filled 12 foot long crater in the back of the yard. I have eyed this crater for weeks now and decided my pumpkin and melon seedlings would enjoy spending the summer growing there. There is plenty of room back there for them to sprawl all they want and I know the ground is nice and fertile thanks to my wiggly worm friends and the generous amounts of fertilizer my two rabbits provide.
That brings me back to what caused me to do a double take. I spotted the other day, coming up right smack in the middle of the compost crater, a squash seedling of some sort. It looks an awful like the zucchini seedlings I have been growing for the last three years in this garden. My confusion has to do with the fact that I never allowed any zucchinis to get enormous last year to where they could possibly produce viable seeds. In fact last year’s zucchini was pathetic thanks to them being swallowed up by towering cosmos.
So where did this little seed come from and what exactly is it? It is quite the mystery and a rather exciting one to a gardener like me that gets into unexpected seedlings emerging from nowhere. My only dilemma is the question of letting it live in squash harmony with my pumpkin and melon babies or giving it the boot. I think I would like to let it stay and see what it grows into. If I was interested in saving seeds I would probably be worried about cross pollination and I would then certainly want to yank it up. But seeing that I am not too interested in saving seed from my squashes, melons, peppers, and tomatoes this year (I couldn’t possibly give them the room they need to prevent cross pollination) I might as well let it stay and reveal itself to us as the growing season progresses.
As you can see in its picture taken just today, it is doing quite well and appears even happier than my coddled little seedlings. Go figure.
Looks like that was the perfect spot for your mystery squash plant to grow. Isn’t it weird how the plants that self-sow always do better than the ones we pamper & nurture along?
It is so true Racquel. It always amazes me too. The one’s that self-sow seem so much stronger.
Cynthia, Isn’t that just humbling? Here you’ve coddled and nurtured your babies only to discover a healthier specimen braving the elements. This just confirms that we who garden must possess a healthy sense of humor.
A couple of ideas: In the past year did perky pumpkins get tossed out there? How about wayward watermelons or cantankerous cantaloupes? I look forward to seeing what becomes of this little marvel.
I’m more than a little stumped by what this little seedling may be. I do not think it could be a melon or pumpkin as I am rather careful about not letting stray seeds enter the pile. (I have a hard time getting my compost hot enough to kill seeds.) The only thing I can think of is the pathetic zucchini from last year actually produced some viable seeds before being tossed into the pile this past fall. Time will tell I suppose. Whatever it may be it most certainly is loving our warm weather this week!
I love volunteer plants! I have the hardest time pulling out things that grow on their own. I’ve had a few mystery squashes bc of it. They still taste great, so I’d say–let it grow!
I am with you Kimberly, I too love volunteers and have a very hard time pulling them out. Just read all about my cosmos in last year’s garden and you will see what I mean!
It is definitely going to stay and I can’t wait to see what it grows into.
It looks like you have a whole bunch of squash seedlings coming up there. Are they all volunteers?
Hi Daphne,
Those are definitely volunteers but not of the squash kind. They are the offspring of my forever going to haunt me now, borage. Borage is EVERYWHERE right now! I leave it growing until it gets in the way and then I yank it. It is so easy to pull up so it is not too big of a problem. When I factor in how much the bees love its flowers coupled with how I have read more than once what an excellent herb it is at drawing other beneficial insects I decide to let it roam the garden at will.
I have always found the plants that just “turn up” in my compost to be incredably hardy. We have enjoyed many squashes courtesy of this free gift. Keep us informed as your new one grows, maybe it will be a super prize winning zuchinni! Weekly updates?
Hi Kevin,
Incredibly hardy indeed! It has already doubled in size since I wrote this post. And you must have read my mind as I was thinking about doing updates on it. I like the idea of weekly ones, I’ll have to see what I can come up with. Maybe once a week or even in the sidebar?