Anybody else weak for volunteers?

[horseyrider]

I hilled some dirt for squash earlier in the spring. As the squash seeds germinated on the rich black hill, so did the seed of a loose head lettuce.  It wasn't too close to the squash so I let it be.  Then one day, when it was at it's magnificent peak, I plucked it and brought it in the house for lunch. 

Then there are the two little tomato plants out there that are flowering.  I left them among the lettuce and carrots (both of which are over now), and I think they're likely to be Sweet 100s.  Might be a roma type, but based on where the romas were, I'm thinking probably not.  It's free food, and it pretty much 'volunteered' to be in my garden and then in my dinner.

Somehow the volunteers are special to me.  Little surprises while weeding that lead to more yield.

Anybody else a bit crazy about volunteers?  Or are you the "rip-'em-out" type?

[mzgarden]

Ah, volunteers - they just automatically bring a smile to my face. In the place where we overwintered our waste hay/compost last year is the most beautiful and gigantic pumpkin vine putting forth tiny little pumpkins all over. Mixed into the vines are lovely tomato plants growing tall - not sure which kind yet. We have a melon vine growing in an odd place and a couple tomato plants are growing up in the strawberry patch. I love these little plants and do my best to give them room to grow on their own. I just find them fun.

[paquebot]

Dill, ground cherries, and garlic are my main volunteers that I allow to live. Had lettuce this year that turned out great. Hundreds of gourd volunteers were not appreciated but it wasn't our doing.

Martin

[feather]

Yes I have some cilantro growing off the compost pile. It's going to seed, more coriander...thank you, you volunteers! DH said, 'do you want me to cut these down', I said, 'heck no, let them go to seed, I'll harvest them first'.