Hairy weed everywhere ID

Fire

Hi all,

I have this popping up everywhere in my garden every summer. I have not seen it flower as I have pulled them out before that. Hairy leaves, hairy stalk. Any ideas on ID?

Much appreciated.

Dovefromabove

Looks like a squash of some sort to me ... have you mulched with home made garden compost ... that's the sort of thing that appears in my garden after mulching 

Fire

You're right, it does look a bit squashy. I do use home made garden compost. I get tonnes of tomato seedlings all over. Interesting. Thanks

wild edges

I was going to say melons. Does your compost break down quite quickly? Melon seeds always germinate and die in the compost for me. I'll open the lid one day and they'll be sprouting up everywhere.

Fire

I certainly eat a lot more melon than squash.  I understand melons are hard to grow re warmth and things, so I wouldn't attempt to get any plants to fruiting stage. It might be interesting to see what would happen, though.

wild edges

Beechgrove did a good trial of ways to grow melons a couple of years ago. I think the conclusion was under glass is best but they are way up north compared to you. I tried in the greenhouse and ended up with 2 small and disappointingly tasteless fruits. If we had more summers like this one though I bet the result would be different.