Allotments 4 All

Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: ruffmeister on August 07, 2007, 21:31:09

Title: Pumpkins, pumpkins and more squahses
Post by: ruffmeister on August 07, 2007, 21:31:09
Hey there, just thought i would give an update on or pumpkin and squash patch. With this warm weather the plot seems to have raced away and now from 5 plants we have around 20 fruits which have set.

Click here to see our Monster pumpkin (http://lottieblogs.co.uk/augw1.aspx)

How are your doing? more fruits per plant? less? arw they rotting off, or have you even harvested a few yet.

Other new this week. More gladioli, runner and dwarf beans, too many courgettes to know what to do with and sweetcorn in flower.

Regards
Lottieblogs
Title: Re: Pumpkins, pumpkins and more squahses
Post by: cambourne7 on August 07, 2007, 21:36:02
nice

i see you have your pumpkin on a brick should i be doing the same thing mine are on wood chips?
Title: Re: Pumpkins, pumpkins and more squahses
Post by: saddad on August 07, 2007, 21:40:41
That should be fine Cams... just to keep them off the damp soil,
;D
Title: Re: Pumpkins, pumpkins and more squahses
Post by: pigeonseed on August 08, 2007, 12:41:58
I'm growing yellow bird, patty pan squash and big green warty marina di chioggia.

So far a few of them have rotted off. I asked on the diseases board and someone said if they're unfertilized they sometimes rot off because they're not viable. The plants seem healthy.

But I've had 2 yellow bird and one marina di chioggia. I made a homemade hammock for it out of string!

I know how to treat my veg.
Title: Re: Pumpkins, pumpkins and more squahses
Post by: Debs on August 09, 2007, 20:17:34
First time with pumpkins and they are coming along nicely in my garden.

Haven't counted the fruits yet but planted about 5 of them.

Debs
Title: Re: Pumpkins, pumpkins and more squahses
Post by: fugazi on August 09, 2007, 20:25:22
only just got our plot cleared but hoping to grow pumpkins next year, dunno if they will match yours tho!
Title: Re: Pumpkins, pumpkins and more squahses
Post by: cambourne7 on August 09, 2007, 21:54:23
Hi ruffmeister,

I managed to get some photos of my pumpkins today

http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n61/cambourne7/Allotment/?action=view&current=DSC00369.jpg

http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n61/cambourne7/Allotment/?action=view&current=DSC00370.jpg

http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n61/cambourne7/Allotment/?action=view&current=DSC00371.jpg

What do you think??

Cambourne7
Title: Re: Pumpkins, pumpkins and more squahses
Post by: Jeannine on August 09, 2007, 22:18:57
OK folks, I hope you are ready for this.

Vandals, floods etc and yes I still got a harvest, below is the full harvest off all my 80 odd assorted squash plants. Yep a picture that shows everything I grew this year WOW!!


















Title: Re: Pumpkins, pumpkins and more squahses
Post by: cambourne7 on August 09, 2007, 22:23:43
Jeanine you have a survivor  ;D , i am sure that the flavour will be worth the effort??
Title: Re: Pumpkins, pumpkins and more squahses
Post by: Jeannine on August 09, 2007, 22:26:47
I better not eat it all at once!! all 2 inches of it!!!
Title: Re: Pumpkins, pumpkins and more squahses
Post by: cambourne7 on August 09, 2007, 22:28:35
:-) mind you the seeds will be hardy !!

What could you make with it?
Title: Re: Pumpkins, pumpkins and more squahses
Post by: Jeannine on August 09, 2007, 22:30:38
A key ring decoration!!

Yours by the way look very healthy and are growing well, you will get a good harvest XX Well done
Title: Re: Pumpkins, pumpkins and more squahses
Post by: cambourne7 on August 09, 2007, 22:48:10
I just have to work out how to get some down to you :)
Title: Re: Pumpkins, pumpkins and more squahses
Post by: carolinej on August 10, 2007, 07:02:17
One year it might be an idea to have an A4A meet with a pumpkin swap, so we could swap any that were plentyfull for something different to try. Of course, I would need a crane for my Atlantic Giant offerings............well, not this year as my biggest is about the size of a pregnant tennis ball :-[  ;D ;D

cj :)
Title: Re: Pumpkins, pumpkins and more squahses
Post by: umshamrock on August 10, 2007, 20:10:07
mine are doing terribly too...no flooding here in plymouth...but the stems have been completely withered for weeks now despite all the rain. although i planted them in compost, i have not fed or watered them since so i guess that could be the problem...
Title: Re: Pumpkins, pumpkins and more squahses
Post by: ruffmeister on August 11, 2007, 17:08:55
Quote from: cambourne7 on August 09, 2007, 21:54:23
Hi ruffmeister,

I managed to get some photos of my pumpkins today

http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n61/cambourne7/Allotment/?action=view&current=DSC00369.jpg

http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n61/cambourne7/Allotment/?action=view&current=DSC00370.jpg

http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n61/cambourne7/Allotment/?action=view&current=DSC00371.jpg

What do you think??

Cambourne7

look good to me, how many fruits? i put it on bricks to lift it off the wet floor, eso during watering,

used slate last year also good,
Title: Re: Pumpkins, pumpkins and more squahses
Post by: cambourne7 on August 12, 2007, 19:41:57
thanks ruffmeister would wood work??

The pumpkins have swelled quite a bit since i took the photos i am planning to take a paper tape measure (ikea) and carefully check them this week. When i lift them i will pop them onto a weighting machine first and check the weight :-)
Title: Re: Pumpkins, pumpkins and more squahses
Post by: SueSteve on August 13, 2007, 09:19:04
I have grown pumpkins/squash for the first time this year (1st year of allotment!!)
We planted a Lidl Sankt Martin, butternut, sweet mama, custard banana, turks turban, 3 carnivals and one we were given -  told it was a pumpkin.
The sankt martin is football sized green with yellow/white streaks.
The 'pumpkin' is football size too, dark green and the base is starting to turn orange.
The butternut and custard banana plants have disappeared?????
The sweet mama has turned into a turks turban!! so that one plus the turks turban - have small fruits on them, they get to around small apple size and then rot.
How do I know when the Sankt martin is ready? How big should it be?
I was going to leave the pumpkin til halloween for the children.
The carnivals are weaving their way through the 3 sisters bed, I havent notived any fruit yet, but they might be somewhere under the beans!!
Title: Re: Pumpkins, pumpkins and more squahses
Post by: Sparkly on August 14, 2007, 12:54:53
I have 2 pumpkin plant 'hundredweight' variety. They got planted out very late, but I used lots of manure. One of the plants has leaves that are yellowing a little. Our plot neighbour suggested epson salts? Out of the 2 plants I have one very small pumpkin that has set. Here's hoping it might catch up! I really wanted a pumpkin for halloween!
Title: Re: Pumpkins, pumpkins and more squahses
Post by: cambourne7 on August 14, 2007, 13:11:43
went up last night and my biggest pumpkin (dinner plate sized) has been nawed at my something  :'(
Title: Re: Pumpkins, pumpkins and more squahses
Post by: Paulines7 on August 14, 2007, 13:24:36
I planted 4 pumpkin varieties and 9 different squashes.  All the plants look dilapidated with very few leaves and no fruits.   :'(

Courgettes have faired better though with the yellow variety now producing some fruits.    :D  The Ronde de Nice has one small fruit as big as Jeannine's squash and the green courgettes are struggling to survive and haven't flowered yet.

Title: Re: Pumpkins, pumpkins and more squahses
Post by: cambourne7 on August 16, 2007, 14:37:55
Hi Guys,

Been up today and took a couple of leaves from the pumpkin plants to allow the sweetcorn to get some light and rain.

Also cut the damamged pumpkin out

http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n61/cambourne7/Allotment/?action=view&current=DSC00385.jpg
http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n61/cambourne7/Allotment/?action=view&current=DSC00386.jpg

I left it for a few days and the colour has changed and it sounds hallow so i guess that the attack has triggered it to ripen.

I am going to leave the plant for a day or so in the sun then i am going to slice off the bit of the pumpkin thats damamged and use it :-) do you think that would be ok??

Cambourne7
Title: Re: Pumpkins, pumpkins and more squahses
Post by: Jeannine on August 16, 2007, 15:23:00
It will be fine Cam. cut deep and enjoy. You could try cutting out the bad bit, drying the cut area  as thoroughly as possible them pour hot wax over the wound. It might keep longer and the colour will change more. Keep an eye on it, if it starts to look as if it starting to go it will be soft round the wound. Then again cut deep and use the rest.

XX Jeannine
Title: Re: Pumpkins, pumpkins and more squahses
Post by: cambourne7 on August 16, 2007, 15:36:57
ah, i was just going to eat it over a couple of days :-)

I need 3.5lb for pumpkin gnocchi, 2 1/4 for pumpkin and garlic soup the rest i will use for pumpkin risotto and to go with sundays roast beef dinner.

Title: Re: Pumpkins, pumpkins and more squahses
Post by: Kea on August 16, 2007, 17:20:55
I'm having a really bad year with my squash and other vege but it's all paled into insignificance because I just lost my Mum on Monday night/Tuesday morning NZT.
Title: Re: Pumpkins, pumpkins and more squahses
Post by: tilts on August 16, 2007, 17:27:48
Kea
Don't try too hard at being strong, allow the emotion and feel this hug x
Title: Re: Pumpkins, pumpkins and more squahses
Post by: legendaryone on August 16, 2007, 17:34:33
So sorry to hear about your mum Kea.
Title: Re: Pumpkins, pumpkins and more squahses
Post by: cambourne7 on August 16, 2007, 17:36:47
Quote from: Kea on August 16, 2007, 17:20:55
I'm having a really bad year with my squash and other vege but it's all paled into insignificance because I just lost my Mum on Monday night/Tuesday morning NZT.

Oh Kea, thats sad.

Please take a cyberhug from me  :)
Title: Re: Pumpkins, pumpkins and more squahses
Post by: legendaryone on August 16, 2007, 17:39:39
I have been doing ok with my squash, in the photo is my pumpkin which first prize and a Lungo bianco which came second :)
The pumpkin weighs nearly a stone. I have two others which are bigger, one nearly double which i am hoping will be a contender for the heaviest at our allotment halloween party.

(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r96/vinylsteve/Allotment/000_0583.jpg)
Title: Re: Pumpkins, pumpkins and more squahses
Post by: ruffmeister on August 16, 2007, 20:16:51
Quote from: cambourne7 on August 14, 2007, 13:11:43
went up last night and my biggest pumpkin (dinner plate sized) has been nawed at my something  :'(

is it terminal? normally the skin gets damaged ne ways so you shoulkd be ok.

wood should be fine, make sure it doesnt get too damp
Title: Re: Pumpkins, pumpkins and more squahses
Post by: lorna on August 16, 2007, 20:22:03
Kea. So sorry to hear your sad news. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Lorna
Title: Re: Pumpkins, pumpkins and more squahses
Post by: cambourne7 on August 16, 2007, 21:36:30
Quote from: ruffmeister on August 16, 2007, 20:16:51
Quote from: cambourne7 on August 14, 2007, 13:11:43
went up last night and my biggest pumpkin (dinner plate sized) has been nawed at my something  :'(

is it terminal? normally the skin gets damaged ne ways so you shoulkd be ok.

wood should be fine, make sure it doesnt get too damp

Yep its terminal the biggest hole is over an inch thick :-)
Title: Re: Pumpkins, pumpkins and more squahses
Post by: Kea on August 17, 2007, 18:45:57
Thanks everyone for your kind words.

I guess the squash still have some time yet.
Title: Re: Pumpkins, pumpkins and more squahses
Post by: Debs on August 18, 2007, 09:25:23
Sorry to hear your sad news Kea.

Sending you a big cyber hug

Debs x