Strange Fruit from Tomato Plant

Question

Does anyone know what type of fruit or growth this is? We thought we were growing tomatoes, the companion plant is producing tomatoes as expected but we don’t know what to make of this and whether it would be edible. The white spots are hard and pointy, almost like thorns. Any insight is greatly appreciated, thank you!

score 19 · Answer 1 · answered Oct 09 '22 at 19:31

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That looks like a poorly pollinated cucumber (the type of distortion on the fruit is exactly what you'd see if pollination were uneven). Although I can't see any leaves, the stem looks like a cucumber and even contains tendrils, as you'd expect. The cuke is edible, but will be very seedy and not particularly nice to eat. In addition, the yellowing tip indicates that the fruit is over-ripe. Personally, I'd toss it and not eat it.

answered Oct 09 '22 at 19:31

Jurp

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How do cucumbers happen? What does "very poorly pollinated cucumber" mean exactly? How can pollination be "uneven"? – uhoh Oct 10 '22 at 22:26
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@uhohthanks for asking the important questions – Hobbamok Oct 11 '22 at 13:23
I'm confused, I would assume then there's a cucumber plant nearby and a seed/something made it's way to OPs tomato area? ...Are you suggesting cucumbers migrate? – BruceWayne Oct 12 '22 at 15:31
@BruceWayne As you surmised, the only way that the OP could have a cucumber mixed in with their tomatoes is if they had cucumber seeds in the potting mix or in the garden soil. I suppose a cuke could migrate if a chipmunk picked up a chunk with seeds and dropped it in the garden, but that's nothing I've ever seen them do. – Jurp Oct 12 '22 at 16:18
Mice appreciate melon seeds, and drop trails of them as they move them; they might do that with cucumber seeds, too. – Brōtsyorfuzthrāx Oct 13 '22 at 08:41

score 4 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 10 '22 at 10:59

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Might be a cucumber as @Jurp said, but also looks like a Cyclanthera pedata or Caigua which is part of the same gourd family. A bit weird shape and thorns show up on an image google, lighter green though.

answered Oct 10 '22 at 10:59

Viktor Mellgren

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Leaves and seeds would make a more certain ID, as Cyclanthera seeds are black, IIRC. Using "caigua" can be misleading, because the same common name applies to at least three different genera, so I'm glad you used the botanical name. Personally, I don't see the resemblance (Cyclanthera seems to be pointier, with larger spines), but who knows? Without the seeds and leaves, we can't be sure. – Jurp Oct 10 '22 at 22:30

Strange Fruit from Tomato Plant

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