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Garden Gate:  What to do with EARLY Pumpkins?????  |
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Kathie
True Blue Farmgirl
2436 Posts
Kathie
Thonotosassa
Florida
USA
2436 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 05 2007 : 07:43:36 AM
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Holy Cow!!
How on earth do I get myself into such a mess all the time???
I swear, my middle name must be Lucy!
OK.. My 8 Year old Neice Zoey & I were talking about growing our own pumpkins.. We thought.. we can grow some for ourselves for Halloween.. even have some extra to sell.. we started getting these grandiose ideas of course..
So.. we went to Wal-Mart & bought a few packets of pumpkin seeds..
Well we planted them.. can't remember how long they've been in the ground now really.. but when we sat out in the yard reading the packets.. we though.. well.. these dates can't be right.. It's going to take Much longer for these huge pumpkins to grow.. isn't it.. So.. we went ahead I planted..
Have I mentioned before that i am not much of a Farmer? i mean.. yes..i do have a Green Thumb.. & i CAN grow things.. Pretty well actualy ... Just don't have much of a mind for dates really..
So.. we decided to go ahead with our pumpkin planting.. & made a few mounds.. we planted about 3 seeds each on 10 spaces in each mound.. then we realized that we had a whole lot of seeds left.. Soooooo.. we went around the yard planting them.. next to the swing set.. next to the front porch.. next to the fountain.. the back porch.. the shed.. the mulch pile.. pretty much anywhere we decided was off the beaten track a bit that might be able to stand a pretty plant..
Yes.. they are ALL growing!
& NOW they are flowering too!!!
No Pumpkins yet though!!
So tell me.. How early are they going to be?
How soon before i have these early Pumpkins growing ALLLlll over my yard???
& what am I going to do with them all??? 
In a World Where you Can Be Anything, Be Yourself.. |
Edited by - Kathie on Jul 05 2007 08:06:02 AM |
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cinnamongirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1682 Posts
Carrie
Canada
1682 Posts |
Posted - Jul 05 2007 : 07:59:59 AM
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| I do not know but it sounds like you had fun! If you have flowers I would think pumpkins will follow, Have an early halloween with your niece! Maybe you will have huge ones. LOL |
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mima
True Blue Farmgirl
1573 Posts
1573 Posts |
Posted - Jul 05 2007 : 08:52:45 AM
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| I think you'll be okay!! I planted tons of pumpkin seeds too! Did Im mention how much I love Halloween???I have one with lots of flowers too- they will be fine even sitting in your garden in the early fall! I love the way they look out there!! |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jul 05 2007 : 08:52:59 AM
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If I remember correctly- it can take pumpkins a long time to form and grow. So they might be a little early, but probably not too much!
You could always make your own (and can) pumpkin pie filling! Yum! Maybe instead of pumpkins for halloween you will have pumpkin pie?
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora! |
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Kathie
True Blue Farmgirl
2436 Posts
Kathie
Thonotosassa
Florida
USA
2436 Posts |
Posted - Jul 05 2007 : 10:02:00 AM
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Yes.. i'd thought about the Pumpkin Pie.. & Pumpkin Soups..
But people will start avoiding me after awhile.. you know.. "Dreaded The Pumpkin Lady"!
Halloween Is MY all time Favorite Holiday Mima!!!!!
I love to decorate for Halloween.. Which is yet another thing i hate about Florida.. We have zilch for a Fall here.. no real change in seasons.. was have warm.. hot.. hotter.. & melt!
In a World Where you Can Be Anything, Be Yourself.. |
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Nance in France
True Blue Farmgirl
1438 Posts
Nancy
St. Laurent de la Salanque
France
1438 Posts |
Posted - Jul 05 2007 : 10:14:28 AM
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| Kathie, I bet your yard is BEAUTIFUL with all those luxurious twining vines wandering around!! I hope you enjoy tip toing through the pumpkins.....! Take lots of pics and show 'em off here! Nance |
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KYgurlsrbest
True Blue Farmgirl
4853 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4853 Posts |
Posted - Jul 05 2007 : 11:15:08 AM
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Pumpkin scones, pumpkin bread...
Any artists in the family? A friend of ours hollowed them out and sprayed the inside with some type of preservative, painted them and shellacked them for the autumn season.
She drilled some with holes, too, and made lanterns. Dunno. Sounds like more than I'd want to do, but it depends on how many pumpkins you have!!!!
"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt." Margaret Atwood
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La Patite Ferme
True Blue Farmgirl
623 Posts
Jenn
CA
USA
623 Posts |
Posted - Jul 05 2007 : 3:19:03 PM
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Kathie,
I also think you're fine if they are just now flowering. We use to plant in late May, then leave them on the vine until the tendril dried out. If you decide to harvest them they should last through the fall if you don't cut them. We've harvested pumkins in late September and they've lasted (whole) until after Thanksgiving.
Enjoy watching them grow! it's fun when the little pumpkins start to show their faces. |
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Kathie
True Blue Farmgirl
2436 Posts
Kathie
Thonotosassa
Florida
USA
2436 Posts |
Posted - Jul 05 2007 : 4:14:34 PM
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ok.. relief.. Now I'm excited!! Again.. renewed Pumpkin Faith!!!
Thanks Girls!!!
In a World Where you Can Be Anything, Be Yourself.. |
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Maryjane Lee
True Blue Farmgirl
2195 Posts
Maryjane
CA
USA
2195 Posts |
Posted - Jul 05 2007 : 4:27:45 PM
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Oh, very exciting Kathie!!!!!! Fall is just in about 2 1/2 months away, even tho we are in the middle of a heat spill and summer! Love pumpkins!!!!! Lucky you!
Hugs,
Maryjane Lee
The Beehive Cottage~
est. 1971 |
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Bluewrenn
True Blue Farmgirl
1122 Posts
Erin
Texas
USA
1122 Posts |
Posted - Jul 05 2007 : 5:06:57 PM
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Cut the pumpkin into big chunks and freeze it. You can use this in soups and stews, in stir fry, skillet dinners, etc... anything recipe that calls for squash, potato or even eggplant.
You can make pumpkin butter, pumpkin ravioli filling, pumpkin waffles, etc... I am sure that there are some relish and salsa recipes that use pumpkin... Pickled pumpkin wedges?
I don't like most of the sweet spices normally used with pumpkin, so I have experimented with other herbs... It's great cooked with olive oil and rosemary, or drenched in butter and served like winter squash. It's great shredded with a grater and made into potato-like pancakes with some basil. Pumpkin works well in yeast breads (anything that would use a potato). It's fantastic baked with a roast with carrots, garlic and onions. Seriously, use just like you'd use a potato!
You may be able to use some of the pumpkin for animal food, but I'd recommend researching that first. I think that I read somewhere that dried pumpkin seeds are good for birds, rabbits and goats.
Luckily pumpkin keeps well if kept dry and cool.
My Homesteading Journal http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com
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lisamarie508
True Blue Farmgirl
2648 Posts
Lisa
Idaho City
ID
USA
2648 Posts |
Posted - Jul 06 2007 : 12:09:32 PM
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I also grow pumpkins here. I have to stick to the short season varieties, though. I cook them and freeze them for use in pies, cookies and bread. I load my cookies with oatmeal, raisins, walnuts and ground flax seed. They make great power cookies during hunting season. Last year, most of my pumpkins ripened by mid Sept and I was really worried that they wouldn't last until Halloween but they looked great well into November. If you end up having too many, set your niece out by the road with her own pumkin stand!
my blog: http://lisamariesbasketry.blogspot.com/
We come from Nature, we go back to Nature; health & happiness in between requires intimacy with Nature. |
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Garden Gate: What to do with EARLY Pumpkins????? |
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What to do with EARLY Pumpkins?????
