Freeman Hardy-Willis
Young Limb
... by Royal appointment - cobblers to the Duke of Edinburgh
Posts: 25
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Post by Freeman Hardy-Willis on Sept 6, 2007 1:14:54 GMT
My pumpkins, which several weeks ago were mere seedlings, are making a desperate attempt to take over the garden, and perhaps - the world.
What do I do? At the moment each plant has spread between 6 and 8 ft across the ground and has around six pumpkins, each the size of a golf ball.
What I ideally want is one or two per plant of a decent size, so is it a machete job?
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Post by Shuggie on Sept 6, 2007 12:09:05 GMT
Just remove the mini pumpkins you don't want, and leave the others to grow.
I've never grown pumpkins .. so I might well be talking out of my @rse (again!) .. but it seems to me to be the most logical solution.
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Freeman Hardy-Willis
Young Limb
... by Royal appointment - cobblers to the Duke of Edinburgh
Posts: 25
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Post by Freeman Hardy-Willis on Sept 6, 2007 13:54:26 GMT
Thanks Shuggie
Does seem the logical thing to do, now I come to think of it.
Every day those creeping tendrils seem to be getting longer and longer, just like that rather bizarre Hammer Horror film from the seventies, the name of which escapes me.
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Post by lily on Sept 6, 2007 15:46:22 GMT
Well it seems to work ok for courgettes/marrows, so I'd give it a go.
xxx
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Post by Fi on Sept 9, 2007 17:53:17 GMT
I have grown pumpkins - Shuggie's advice is spot on. One thought, to help the fruit to grow, don't be shy with fertiliser - they are incredibly greedy plants. The best place to grow them is on top of a compost heap, but otherwise, they love loads of homemade compost or farmyard manure. If you don't have access to either, growmore pellets or similar should do the trick.
It's probably a good idea to pinch out the ends of the growing vines (is that the right word?), so that the plants now put their energy onto the fruit.
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Post by lemanie on Sept 9, 2007 19:53:40 GMT
as the proud owner of a huge pumpkin, beware of the side shoots that they send out. Happened when i decided to stop it going any further in the direction it wanted to. I've only got one HUGE pumpkin on my plant but i think i've learnt my lesson, no more pumpkins for me!
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Post by Fi on Sept 9, 2007 23:21:12 GMT
as the proud owner of a huge pumpkin, beware of the side shoots that they send out. Happened when i decided to stop it going any further in the direction it wanted to. I've only got one HUGE pumpkin on my plant but i think i've learnt my lesson, no more pumpkins for me!
To avoid an immediate glut of pumpkin based foods, they will freeze well once the flesh have been either roasted or boiled - roasting's best for flavour. Just pulp the flesh once it's soft, stick it in freezer bags, label them and it will be fine for up to six months to make more pies and/or soup. |
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Post by lemanie on Sept 10, 2007 17:47:21 GMT
hi fi, i think i'll be living on pumpkin when i can finally get it picked. Thats if the family of 4 which are happily living in it at the moment leave me any to eat.
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Post by smiffy on Sept 11, 2007 4:13:00 GMT
*wonders if I have room for a pumpkin in my veggie plot*
Shame! I love pumpkin!
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