I am confused, am I growing cucumbers or watermelons

[vfem]

Are you buying the wildflower mix from walmart? I've heard so many weird things end up in those mixed flower cans they sell! I've seen some weird things pop up from them!

 

[Neko-Chan]

Indeed! Sounds like you need to ditch that particular seed provider, and get some seeds from more reputable companies. I mean, year after year of mixed up seeds? Sounds fishy.

I have no idea what it is, but hopefully it survives long enough for you to find out!

 

[stepstephens2]

The more I look at that picture, I just keep thinking gourd. I'm growing birdhouse gourds and bushel gourds, and it really reminds me of them... The shape seems similar to the apple gourd.

 

[dragonlaurel]

Maybe acorn squash?

 

[Smiles Jr.]

Maybe you could do something like this to keep from having to lower all of the vine to the ground. You'll certainly cause plant damage when lowering. I have done this in the past with good success. I use fruit or onion bags from the grocery store. It will be interesting to see what it turns into.

 

[monroele]

Actually I buy the seeds from my local nursery. I should have kept the envelope and write to the seed producer. It said that these were wildflowers especially for my climate.
Only in the third year it dawned on me that it must be the wildflower seeds. It was too much of a coincidence that I was always getting these cucumber-like plants where I put the seeds. And the people at the nursery were of no help, they just shrugged their shoulders when I showed them pictures of the plant.

Thank you all for your input and suggestions. Many new fruits are forming on my mysterious plant and I am really curious now what it will be at the end. Of course it grew in a spot I would not have chosen and it may not survive. These plants seem to be very easily damaged. And as I put up the trellis after the plant was already huge, I was not able to position it perfectly, so it is all very shaky. I have to say that I feel better now. I first was down on myself because I could not figure out what plant that is. And now with all these experienced gardeners nobody knows for sure and it still could be anything from cucumber, to melon, to gourd......

 

[stepstephens2]

The fact that they are easily damaged makes me want to change my answer... A melon and a gourd would be able to make it in fairly difficult circumstances laying out on the ground. I don't bother to trellis any of the gourds (except luffa) because they are so heavy. I give them a pretty big patch together and let them do what they want. It's not ideal for picking or prettiness, but the patches produce and live well enough. But, cucumbers are another matter... unless they are one of those types that grow in bush form (which yours plant is not) they need trellising and care to get them thriving well enough to form mature cucumbers. Also, someone mentioned acorn squash... which might be a possiblity... maybe like a squash hybrid. I had some hybrids volunteer this year and they came in in some off the wall shapes that never matured and would just fall of the stem. I would suggest that if your plant does die, pull the whatever it is from the vine and do an autopsy of it. I'm pretty sure that we could help you identify it a little better by the size/shape of the seeds and color/spongy appearance of the flesh.

 

[monroele]

stepstephens2 - I wonder what kind of sins you are guilty of to get gophers??? If you know, please let me know, I have gophers too

I will keep everybody informed about the progress of my plant, I am determined to keep it alive, though it would help if I would know what it is so that I could treat it in the right manner.