watermelons???

Peasants · **Posted:** Sun Apr 24, 2011 1:10 am

We have a watermelon (we think) vine that has been growing for ages, which I am pretty sure I planted from seed. It has spread over a large area (about 3m x 2m), and has really, really tiny yellow flowers and marble sized fruit, which is hairy or spiky. Inside it is full of white watermelon looking seed. The fruit doesn't seem to be getting any bigger, but there seems to be more growing all the time. I didn't do any trimming of it initially....is that why it has hundreds of miniatures, or is it something else??? Just wondering if we should pull it out!!

Any ideas???

Axl · **Posted:** Sun Apr 24, 2011 9:46 am

sounds like wild cucumber, fruit get to about the size of qa big egg, don't know whether they are edible or not, we have always treated them as a weed.

Faye · **Posted:** Sun Apr 24, 2011 10:37 am

Oh dear

If it is what I am thinking it is definately a weed that produces hundreds of fruit and I do not think you want it on your property. It is a pain to collect all the fruits, a painstaking job which you really want to nip in the bud. If in doubt, rip it out.

Peasants · **Posted:** Sun Apr 24, 2011 10:52 am

Oops, that was the worry! Why would it suddenly start growing? Or could it be contaminated seeds? I am sure I actually planted melon seeds there- Sugar Baby from Diggers.
Won't wait to see any longer though, it is obviously not 'right', so out it comes!

Faye · **Posted:** Sun Apr 24, 2011 11:13 am

I am a bit concerned that it might be something different to what I know, do you have a picture?
I paid Laura to collect each one, 5c from memory, cost me an absolute packet as I think there was around 500, I could not believe it, for everyone you tread on :sad2:

they split and shoot out :bash:

Be careful not to leave any behind.

dufflight · **Posted:** Sun Apr 24, 2011 4:48 pm

Bird poo is usually how the plants move around. Okay if the birds are eating vegies but not much fun when they eat weeds.

Big_Dave · **Posted:** Sun Apr 24, 2011 9:31 pm

Sounds like a weed, I have something similar here, I thought it was a rockmelon but the little furry melons never really got bigger than a 50c piece! It still springs up every wet bit then dies off during the dry!

Peasants · **Posted:** Mon Apr 25, 2011 4:42 pm

Here is a picture, it certainly sounds like what you had Faye- there really are lots and lots and lots.....!!! Out it comes! Planning on putting it and its thousands of fruit in a bag to die off before it is disposed of to prevent spreading.....

Faye · **Posted:** Mon Apr 25, 2011 7:09 pm

Loooks too familiar :run:

The Hopefulls · **Posted:** Mon Apr 25, 2011 8:08 pm

looks a lot much like paddy mellons. I would tend to get rid of it. but i could be wrong

Peasants · **Posted:** Sun May 01, 2011 10:54 am

Its out....and the thousands of tiny 'melons' underneath! They are no bigger than marbles....so I don't think it was paddy melon, but what ever it was it shouldn't have been there!!! :dont:

Any suggestions for disposal so it doesn't grow elsewhere? At the moment it is in a big garden bag, and we thought of leaving it in there in the sun to see if it just rots down, but not sure if this will prevent the seeds from sprouting later. Maybe burning it..???