Friend or foe? Plant or weed?
May 14, 2011 11:05 AM Subscribe
I'm in Southern California and have a tiny patch of dirt, so over the past couple of years, we've been trying to grow random things, seemingly with no success, except recently, a bunch of stuff sprouted up. Please help ID these.
I'm trying to figure out what's a weed, and what's worth keeping.
At least one plant might be a cucumber plant. Then again, maybe not.
Mystery plant #1 apparently sprouted and grew about a foot and a half in a week or two.
Mystery plant #2 is about maybe 6" tall.
Mystery plant #3 is maybe 3" tall or so.
Mystery plant #4 is about 4-5" tall.
Mystery plant #5 is only about 2" tall.
Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated!
I'm trying to figure out what's a weed, and what's worth keeping.
At least one plant might be a cucumber plant. Then again, maybe not.
Mystery plant #1 apparently sprouted and grew about a foot and a half in a week or two.
Mystery plant #2 is about maybe 6" tall.
Mystery plant #3 is maybe 3" tall or so.
Mystery plant #4 is about 4-5" tall.
Mystery plant #5 is only about 2" tall.
Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated!
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posted by cda at 11:14 AM on May 14, 2011
posted by cda at 11:14 AM on May 14, 2011
I think #4 may be a mallow.
If it is a cucumber it will have those spirally tendrils that hook around anything it can get to in order to climb.
It is usually very hard to identify a plant without seeing the flower. But you may get answers anyway from the Flickr group.
posted by cda at 11:22 AM on May 14, 2011
If it is a cucumber it will have those spirally tendrils that hook around anything it can get to in order to climb.
It is usually very hard to identify a plant without seeing the flower. But you may get answers anyway from the Flickr group.
posted by cda at 11:22 AM on May 14, 2011
#4 is mallow -- confirmed. Though it's purported to be edible, I tried eating the 'cheeses' (the seed pods) from the endemic patch in my garden, and all I ended up with was a mouth of fibrous plant stuff.
It's a noxious weed. Its taproot can be 18" long, or more. Get rid of it now before it takes over.
posted by mudpuppie at 12:06 PM on May 14, 2011
It's a noxious weed. Its taproot can be 18" long, or more. Get rid of it now before it takes over.
posted by mudpuppie at 12:06 PM on May 14, 2011
From my LA gardening experience, those are weeds. None of those is a cucumber plant.
From the tiny patch of dirt you've got, consider growing herbs. It's hard to screw up basil and rosemary. You can get'em at Home Depot. I could never get tomatoes to grow in a window pot.
If you want something super easy to grow, mustard greens or arugala.
posted by musofire at 12:08 PM on May 14, 2011 [2 favorites]
From the tiny patch of dirt you've got, consider growing herbs. It's hard to screw up basil and rosemary. You can get'em at Home Depot. I could never get tomatoes to grow in a window pot.
If you want something super easy to grow, mustard greens or arugala.
posted by musofire at 12:08 PM on May 14, 2011 [2 favorites]
Southern California gardener here. That's all stuff I weed from my yard...
posted by cecic at 1:02 PM on May 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by cecic at 1:02 PM on May 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
Nthing weeds. My husband calls them "Creeping Charlies" and they are the bain of his existance.
posted by arishaun at 2:39 PM on May 14, 2011
posted by arishaun at 2:39 PM on May 14, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by dortmunder at 11:12 AM on May 14, 2011