COLIN CAMPBELL: Well it still is a pumpkin! Its not supposed to be, but it still is, but its all to do with sex. There are male and female flowers on a pumpkin plant and the male flower is tall and has got yellow pollen inside it and the female flower has got a little swelling which is actually that and what happened was, it thought it had been pollinated and so it started to grow, but then the pollination hadnt happened at all so she said, Oh heck. So thats as far as it got and then it ripens and falls off. So what you have to do is firstly, check to see you have male and female flowers on the plan because if youve only got one and it often does happen in summer – you only get one, one or the other, theres nothing you can do to induce the other ones to come. So, have a look, check the male flower out, pick it off if youve got one, take it to a girl flower and dust the pollen into the middle and keep dusting it, over a few days and blow me down, youll get proper pumpkins.
DIANE, BALLINA NSW: Ive got a lovely Sir Walter lawn – Buffalo- and now Ive got all these weeds and I want to know how to treat them, without ruining the lawn.
JERRY COLEBY-WILLIAMS: Ok. Well what youve got, in this hand here, is a native Euphorbia. Its Euphorbia drummondii. Its a flat weed, very grey and its got a very waxy leaf so its very difficult to control. And Creeping Oxalis which is everywhere….
JERRY COLEBY-WILLIAMS: Everybody has a problem with it. The first thing is a quick fix. You can get white vinegar and water in equal proportions and you add a drop of dishwashing detergent to a watering can full and you water over them and that will kill them. But to get a lasting result, these are telling you something about your lawn. What theyre telling me is that your lawn is acidic, so you need to add some lime, that you cut your lawn a little bit too low, so you need to cut it as high as possible and they thrive, these weeds thrive in starved conditions, so once every season, apply some poultry manure and some blood and bone – a handful of each per square metre – and youre grass will be so thick and so green, it will outcompete these weeds and you wont have a problem.
As a popular fall crop pumpkins are an iconic part of many backyard gardens. But their distinctive leaves can sometimes be mistaken for weeds by novice gardeners. To help avoid confusion, let’s look at some common weeds that resemble pumpkin leaves so you can accurately identify what’s growing in your garden.
Key Characteristics of Pumpkin Leaves
Pumpkin leaves have some telltale features that set them apart from lookalikes:
- Large, triangular leaves up to 1 foot wide with 5-7 pointed lobes
- Alternate leaf arrangement on hairy, prickly stems
- Dark green color on top and pale green below
- Coarse texture with shallow cracks
- Distinct sweet, earthy pumpkin aroma when crushed
Weed Lookalikes to Watch Out For
Several common weeds share similarities with pumpkin leaves that can cause confusion
Burdock
- Oval leaves with wavy, crinkled edges
- Woolly underside and reddish stems
- Taproot grows deep into soil
- Considered an invasive weed in many areas
Common Mallow
- Round, lobed leaves up to 4 inches wide
- Notched leaf tips with rounded teeth
- Hairy stems and leaves
- Shallow root system spreads by seeds
Prickly Lettuce
- Lance-shaped leaves extend up stalk
- Fuzzy, gray-green color with prickles on midrib
- Oozes white latex sap when broken
- Grows as a rosette and bolt-shaped flower stalk
Common Ragweed
- Deeply lobed leaves like oak leaves
- Branched, upright growth to 3 feet tall
- Leaf undersides densely hairy
- Notorious allergy-triggering pollen
Velvetleaf
- Large, heart-shaped, velvety leaves
- Pointed leaf tips with prominent veins
- Coarse hairs on stems and leaves
- Funnel-shaped yellow flowers
Wild Cucumber
- Sharply lobed leaves like maple leaves
- Look nearly identical to pumpkin early on
- Climbing vines with tendrils
- Produces prickly green fruit
Tips for Positive Identification
When an unknown plant appears in your pumpkin patch, use these tips to correctly identify it:
- Compare leaf shape, texture, arrangement and other details against known pumpkin leaves
- Crush a leaf and smell for the distinctive sweet, earthy pumpkin scent
- Look for other identifying marks like flowers, fruits, sap, and growth habit
- Monitor the plant’s growth and note any changes over time
- Consult gardening references or experts to confirm ID if unsure
Catching pumpkin leaf lookalikes early allows you to remove them before they spread seeds or roots. With close observation and the right tools, you can keep your pumpkin patch weed-free and avoid having your pumpkins mistaken for weeds!
Common Questions About Pumpkin Leaf Identification
What other plants look like pumpkin plants?
Also known as mock tomato, pumpkin tree or pumpkin bush, Solanum integrifolium is actually a type of eggplant grown for its ornamental characteristics. Botanically, it’s in the nightshade family along with tomato, potato, peppers and eggplant.
How do you identify pumpkin leaves?
Pumpkin leaves are large and can vary in shape and size, often featuring either a tri-lobed form or a rounded, lilypad-like, pinnate structure. These leaves measure between 18 and 25 centimeters in diameter. They grow on hollow stems with curly tendrils and often have serrated edges.
What do pumpkin seedling leaves look like?
The first leaves appearing on the seedling are tiny oval-shaped leaves resembling a bean sprout.
Are pumpkin plants spiky?
Pumpkin vines are often prickly, so wear gloves and long sleeves when harvesting to keep from itching.
What leaves look like a pumpkin?
Zucchini – before flowering and producing fruit, zucchini leaves have a similar shape and color to those found on pumpkin plants.
Watermelon – leaves look very similar to those on pumpkin plants. Their leaves are large and dark green, sprouting from long stems that creep on the ground.
Cantaloupe – looks similar to pumpkin.
What are the best types of pumpkin seeds to buy?
The best pumpkin seeds to eat are hull-less, also known as pepitas. They are naked, they do not have any cream-colored hull covering them. They contain healthy fats, protein, and minerals. Always avoid salted pumpkin seeds.
Correctly identifying plants is an important skill for any gardener. With pumpkin leaves being so iconic, it’s easy to mistake lookalike weeds for the real thing. By learning the key features of pumpkin plants and keeping an eye out for common imposters, you can ensure your fall pumpkin patch remains healthy and weed-free. Happy growing!
SERIES 21 | Episode 17
Nadine asks: This is supposed to be a pumpkin but its really little. Can you tell me what happened?
Colin answers: Well it is a pumpkin! Its the small swelling that grows at the base of the female flower, and its one way of distinguishing the female flowers from the male flowers. Another way to distinguish them is by their height. Male flowers are produced on a much longer stem and have a lot of yellow pollen in them. The problem with your pumpkin is that the female flower wasnt pollinated so the pumpkin hasnt formed properly.
I suggest checking to see that the plant has both male and female flowers. Unfortunately, if there is only one sex of flower, its not possible to induce a flower of the opposite sex to grow. But if your plant does have both sexes, pick the male flower and rub the centre of it onto the female flower to transfer the pollen and this should ensure your plant grows pumpkins!
Diane asks: I have all these weeds in my Sir Walter buffalo lawn. Id like to know how to treat them without ruining the lawn.
Jerry answers: You have two weeds. The first is a native Euphorbia. Its Euphorbia drummondii, a flat grey weed with a waxy leaf, which makes it difficult to control. The other weed is Creeping Oxalis which many people have a problem with.
The first thing your lawn needs is a quick fix. In a watering can, mix equal proportions of white vinegar and water, and add a drop of dishwashing detergent. Water the mixture over the weeds and it will kill them. However, weeds are an indication that the lawn needs feeding, is being mowed too short, and that the soil is too acidic. To overcome the acidity problem, add some lime at the recommended rate. I also advise applying poultry manure and blood and bone at a rate of about one handful of each per square metre. Soon your grass will be so thick and so green that it will out-compete the weeds and you wont have a problem.