Manuel's pumpkins

[Borlotti]

Manuel has 25 pumpkins on his allotment and is trying to grow a big one.  I had over an hour last night about pumpkins, the one he gave me is growing and has to have its four watering cans of water and feeding. I took these pictures for him and have just learnt, or almost, a new trick by accident with my camera as found the last two photos were a video. Well I will try and post the pictures. Mine is getting big too, but what will I do with it  ;D ;D

[Borlotti]

[manicscousers]

what does manuel do with his?  ;D

[Borlotti]

Gives them away, or makes soup, think he just enjoys growing them. Please don't ask him (not that you know him) but he can talk pumpkins all day and night.  Told him he should be on TV but his English is not too good as he is Portugese but knows a lot about gardening.  I am trying to find him a gardening job in Enfield, London but he doesn't drive and thought there would be loads of jobs but looked on the website and can't find anything appropriate here, not even for the Council  :'( :'( :'(

[manicscousers]

we have a 'manuel' but about cabbages, he's got loads of pics of his, characters, both, from the sound of it  ;D

[Borlotti]

Just printed this off for Manuel (colour ink is so expensive), just a few of his pumpkins.

[Squash64]

Tell Manuel I'm impressed!

I grow giant pumpkins for our competition but don't use them in the kitchen.  However, one of our local Sikh temples is only too willing to come and collect them after the competition.  They provide free food at the temple and are not put off by the size of our giants.
This might be an idea for Manuel.

[grawrc]

I'm planning to grow some pumpkins/ winter squash next year but I'm finding it hard to get accurate info about planting distances (given that they spread about like mad anyway). I intend to manure the bed intensively but how many can I plant? I have Uchiki Kuru, Potimarron and Blue Hubbard. I have 2 available beds 1m20 by 4m50which could become, if required, one bed of 2m80 by 4m50.
I think Manuel's pumpkins are splendid! I would make and pumpkin pie and add them to stews and curries. And just admire them! There are a few charities here too that welcome surplus produce. 

[Eristic]

However, one of our local Sikh temples is only too willing to come and collect them after the competition.  They provide free food at the temple

Ha! Feeding the sick.  8)

OK. I'm off.

[redimp]

Some of the best food I ever had was from a langar in a Sikh Gurdwara in Leicester.

[chriscross1966]

I'm planning to grow some pumpkins/ winter squash next year but I'm finding it hard to get accurate info about planting distances (given that they spread about like mad anyway). I intend to manure the bed intensively but how many can I plant? I have Uchiki Kuru, Potimarron and Blue Hubbard. I have 2 available beds 1m20 by 4m50which could become, if required, one bed of 2m80 by 4m50.
I think Manuel's pumpkins are splendid! I would make and pumpkin pie and add them to stews and curries. And just admire them! There are a few charities here too that welcome surplus produce. 

Big pile of poo every 4 feet, one plant on each, two rows a decent distance away from the edge... let them get on with it and fertilize by hand to ensure fruit set. Uchiki Kuri is a small orange Hubbard.... Blue Hubbards can get huge (15kg+). Potimarrons taste quite different to other squash.

chrisc

[grawrc]

Thank you!!!