Last night as I was doing a little trimming in the garden I accidentally snipped a big, fat, juicy vine that held 6 green pumpkins on it. Boy was I mad at myself. The pumpkin was a Howden pumpkin which tend to grow in the 20 -25 pound range at their peak. The orange pumpkin you see on the top stem weighed in at 30 pounds.
The green pumpkins collectively weighed in at 31 pounds 7 ounces. And YES, I am counting them towards my goal of 2,000 pounds of garden produce.
A few of you mentioned on Facebook last night I should try and make a green pumpkin “apple” pie like Ma did in the Little House on the Prairie series with my unripe pumpkins. So later today I’ll give it a go and let you know how it works out.
All in all I am pretty pleased with how the pumpkin is coming along. Although Handsome Husband however is freaking out because he can’t mow the grass. The pumpkins have invaded his territory.
Oh well, he’ll get over it {I hope}.
Next year though, I think I’ll move the pumpkin patch somewhere else though.
Here are a few pictures of my favorite pumpkins so far…
This sucker probably weighs about 30 pounds right now. All I have to do is keep him happy for a few more weeks so I can fatten him up. Then it’s off to the butcher!
See the orange pumpkin in the center?
I still can’t figure out what it is. We must have about 5-7 of them growing, and if I had to guess they all weigh around 30 pounds or so. I guess well have to wait until they fully ripen before we figure out what variety they are.
Coolest pumpkin ever. My boyfriend Ryan over at Botanical Interests Seed Company sent me these seeds. It’s actually an Australian heirloom pumpkin. I’ve grown them before for Monkey Boy’s pumpkin pies and they are a nice and meaty squash.
Here’s another look at the mysterious pumpkin. If you know what the name of it my be, let me know.
Peace Out Girl Scouts,
I’ve got a pie to bake.
Have a great day!
♥ Mavis
Carol says
Hey Mavis – what is that squash/pumpkin called on the lower right of the heirloom pumpkin photo collage?
And looking forward to see how Ma’s pie turns out for you.
Mavis says
A very light colored Gold Hubbard Squash. I bet that one weighs about 50 pounds. Seriously, it’s huge.
Sara Jane says
Mavis;
HELP!!!!!My crazy farmer has decided this year…since the corn is a wash to take soy beans off early. I have a volunteer pumkin growing in my compost pile which has gone into the beans. No lie they are over 8 30lb pumkins in the line of fire. The internet says I can cut them off leaving a 4inch steam and they will turn orange. What to do? Do you think he will go around them?
Saralie says
offer him 3 pumkins or 3 pumpkin pies if he goes around them. The worst he will say is NO.
Sara says
Alright her we go out to make nice with the pumkin killer
Mavis says
Ha! I just looked outside, he went around them… This time. 😉
Mavis says
Personally I would not cut them. Go talk to Farmer guy and plead with him.
Sara says
Well I tried. He is not having it. So I had to cut 5 of the 8. I made
sure to take enough of the vine. They have some orange on them.
Men why cant they just play nice
Jenn says
Looks like you have white mildew on the pumpkin leaves as well 🙁 I’ve had so many pumkins rot out due to poor pollination (got that one figured out and I hand pollinated most of them) then to the white mildew. I’m going to try to treat them with milk/water mixture or the baking soda/soap/water mix to see if it will stop. Uhhh!
Vanessa says
Looks kind of like a Cinderella pumpkin.
Lisa in IL says
If you do decide to move your pumpkin patch make sure you get every single last rogue seed from this year because the one you miss this year will be the only one to reseed itself next year. Unless of course you want hybrid weird squash next year.
Heidi says
Could it be a cinderella pumpkin?
Chantell says
It is in fact a “Cinderella Pumpkin.” Love these and they make AMAZINGLY bright orange and flavorful soups, pies and Amish Pumpkin Loaves.
From the web: Cinderella Pumpkins are a unique French heirloom whose correct name is “Rouge vif D’Etampes”. The source of their nickname it that they resemble the pumpkin that Cinderella’s fairy godmother transformed into a carriage. This pumpkin is recorded as having been the variety cultivated by the Pilgrims and served at the second Thanksgiving dinner. This is our favorite pumpkin variety. There is something magical about them. Cinderellas make a delightful decorative accent for the fall season, but additionally their flavor is good for any pie or winter squash recipe.
Again, my favorite!
Mavis says
Okay,
#1 I’ve grown Cinderella pumpkins before but these ones are HUGE. So that’s what has me scratching my head.
#2 You mean my people {The Pilgrims} ate Cinderella pumpkins? Holy canolies this is awesome news!! I had no idea. Thanks. 🙂
Lucky L says
Use the green pumpkin for something my family calls ‘pumpkin’
Shred the pumpkin on a mandolin so it looks like julienned strips or spaghetti squash. Boil water, add pumpkin and cook for 8-10 minutes till tender, yet still firm. Drain, but save 1-2 cups cooking water.
In large pan, saute 1 chopped onion 5-8 minutes till translucent. Remove onion from pan. Make 3-4 Tbs of roux (butter/flour or oil/flour) in onion pan. Add some of the pumpkin water with 1/2 tsp vinegar to begin to thin roux and make sauce. Mix 2 tsp flour into 8 oz of sour cream. Then add sour cream to roux mix. Add drained pumpkin. Add some more pumpkin water if sauce too thick.
You can also shred the pumpkin and then freeze it raw for same recipe. Reduce cooking time a bit.
I like it because sometimes you just need something warm and gooey.
Melannie says
Jarrahdale is wonderful, roast/bake it and serve it with a Sunday roast. The outside caramelizes and gets a crunchy golden brown.
One of the things I miss from home.
That and Queensland Blue pumpkins which I am also growing this year. [My DH knows what to get to go in my Christmas stocking. Vegie seeds 🙂 ]
Oh and they also both make wonderful pumpkin soup!!!
Mavis says
Seeds make the best presents don’t they. 🙂
Tanya Peila says
I love that your pumpkins havtaken over your yard! Last year we had a pumpkin spontaneously grow in our front flower bed. We did not plant it and it grew GREAT! Grew over the sidewalk and into our lawn. This year I planted one intentionally in the same bed. It is smaller but still grew!