The other day I went out to the garden and snapped a few photos of our pumpkin patch. I’ve grown pumpkins before, but never this many.
I’ve been really surprised lately at all the sugar pie pumpkins there are, and I’m going to have to figure out a way to use all the pumpkin puree once I get all the pumpkins processed and in to the freezer.
Get a look at Mr. Hubbard. Isn’t he handsome? I almost think he’s to pretty to pick. I wish there was a way to shellac this golden Hubbard squash and keep it forever. Is that even possible? Does anyone know?
We also have several butternut squashes growing in the grass and along our hillside. I can’t remember if I have grown butternut squash before, and I have no idea if they are going to make it and ripen before the first frost. How long does it take butternut squash to turn brown anyway? Yikes!
I’m also hoping the spaghetti squash will ripen in time too. These particular spaghetti squash happen to be growing on our back porch, so I think I’ll be able to insulate them with a little straw and see what happens.
My only Long Island Cheese pumpkin.
Mr. Winter Pink Banana Squash.
We also have a ton {okay, not a ton but a lot} of Big Max pumpkins. Next year I totally need to start my pumpkins and squash in early June, rather than early July, that much I’ve figured out so far. I bet if I would have started this variety of pumpkin a little sooner, they’d be more in the 50 pound range rather than the 20 – 25 pound range.
Gardening is all about trial and error, isn’t it? And for me, experimenting is the best part. I love it.
~ Mavis
I know it’s a little early to start thinking about garden seeds for 2013, but you know me, I have a slight addiction to seeds so I thought I’d let you know Botanical Interests has 32 new seed varieties for 2013.
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Kayla says
I put some pumpkin puree in chili last year and it was yummy. My fiance took some to a chili cook off at his work and everyone seemed to like it.
Kathy says
Check the outer shell, ripe winter squash will resist a scratch from your fingernail and vines will begin to die back when the squash is mature.
I just made a stupendous spiced apple and butternut squash soup that my youngest said was delicious. This from the Man child that does not like any squash at all.
Mavis, I also have several recipes my sister passed along for using kale. Pesto, one that is balsamic glazed chickpeas and mustard greens, but she used kale and said it was pretty darn good.And one that is sauteed kale and tomatoes served over whole wheat pasta that she said was great. You want?
Mavis says
Yes, send it to me. 🙂 one hundred dollars a month @ gmail.com 🙂
Kathy says
On it’s way!
Lissa says
Please please post the apple/butternut squash soup recipe! Thanks 🙂
jess h says
and the balsamic glazed chickpeas too!!
suzanne says
Hope you have time to add detailed seed starting dates to your bust day. that would be awesome
Denise says
Love the pumpkin pics. I need to relocate my pumpkins next year– I only got one (and a few surprise squash) and it’s not very big. It’s a Cinderella but teeny. The trial and error part is fun! Always better next year!
Helen in Meridian says
Today on Sunday Morning program on TV they had the ultimate pumpkin, formerly thought impossible…. a one ton pumpkin. Growers that had thought a pumpkin would implode on itself before reaching 2,000 #. He had another pumpkin that he thought weighed even more that he took to an event they filmed, but it was under 2,000 lb. He said these pumpkins would gain 40 plus lb a day. He did have a canopy over the huge pumpkin in his yard. Maybe to protect it, or to keep lookie-lou people from seeing it on his property.
Mavis says
How amazing. I think it would be so cool to grow a pumpkin of that size.