pumpkins for halloween.

[k.chambers]

To all,

I would realy like to grow my own pumpkins for halloween. But i think i've planted them too late. i've never grown a plant bigger than 40cm. The biggest one i gave to my sister and she killed it! When should i have planted them?

Kayleigh

[Mrs Dobby]

Hi Kayleigh, Pumpkins should be planted in the spring (exactly when depends on the variety you are sowing), for an autumn harvest!

I'm afraid it does sound as though you have planted too late for this year, as they are a slowish maturing crop, but you should be able to get some planted early next year for next Halloween! If you need some seeds give us a shout, we've lots more than we can use and dont mind sending you some if you send us a self addressed and stamped envelope!

I love Halloween, always have at least 2 or 3 pumpkins carved up and in the garden for the local kids to oggle! Its great to make loads of pumpkin dishes too, Mr Dobby does a wicked pumpkin pei, and I love the pork and pumpkin bisque, but our fave has to be the pumpkin chilli, mmmm! I have made some for friends for the past 3 years, and all of them are eagerly anticipating this years offering!

[k.chambers]

Thank you Mrs Dobby,

I'm only 12 and i didn't know anything about it. I'll plant them next year. They were just a little bit late .


Kayleigh.

[k.chambers]

Mrs dobby,

My mum's called Suzanne. She makes pumpkin mash. it's nice and sweet.

kayleigh

[Mrs Dobby]

Hi Kayleigh!

Your Mum has a lovely name too, but then again, maybe I am a little bit biased! ;D

Hmm, Pumpkin Mash, not thought of that one!! Thanks for the idea! I've done roast pumpkin with other roasted veg, which is very nice, but not thought of mashing it!

If you need any seeds, just PM me with your address and we will post you some, ok?

[SueA]

Hi Kayleigh & Mrs Dobby,
I made pumpkin pie once but didn't like it much as I couldn't decide if it was meant to be sweet or savoury! I have tried to grow pumpkins this year for the first time but didn't end up with any because as soon as they got about as big as a tennis ball something came along & ate them (think it was the giant ravenous slugs we have) so watch out for that next year Kayleigh!

[Waffler]

Sue,
I think I've had the same problem as you. I only grew one plant (actually grew 3, but 2 failed) from the seed of a pumpkin 'bought' last year for carving up. However, mine only made it to golfball size before getting munched. I have one which is a little smaller than a basket ball which is ok, except that it doesn't seem to be growing and it's still green - I think in lifting it to place straw under it, part of the stalk has been broken, so I don't even know if my single pumpkin will amount to anything! boo hoo! If it doesn't, the plan is to buy one pumpkin for carving, then I'm hoping after halloween the price of pumpkins will plummet and I can buy some for making in to soups etc, and save seeds again ready for next year.

Kayleigh, although you have already been offered seeds, I found saving them from the one shop bought pumpkin worked pretty well, so if you do buy one for halloween, you could always try saving your own seed.

[k.chambers]

All,
Thats were I got my seeds form, A pumpkin we had last year.
My friends grandma has a pumpkin plan I gave to her. As soon as it has a flower it is eaten by slugs and snails. I think everyone should use slug liquid because pelets could be harmfull to hedgehogs.

Kayleigh.

[Waffler]

And pets! (stupid enough to eat them!)

The problem with any chemical solutions Kayleigh, is that the slugs & snails die, but may then be eaten by birds, hedghods, frogs, toads etc. I hate using them myself, but have to admit I do resort to them sometimes, as it is so soul destroying to find a plant you have lovingly nurtured, reduced to nothing by these horrible creatures!
That said, nature is quite clever, so it may well be that most animals won't eat a slug or snail that is already dead.

[k.chambers]

Waffler,

I think you can get these rings of metal to put around plants .Or for short plants like lettice you can get theese plastic tunnels.

Kayleigh

[SueA]

It's really difficult to find a way of keeping slugs off pumpkins though because they grow so big & sprawl all over the garden so you would need something which would keep the slugs out of a fairly large area. One of the pumpkins I tried to grow this year had climbed up into a euonymus plant & the slugs even found the tiny pumpkin on the end of that & ate it! I'd be interested to know how anyone has managed to keep slugs & snails of their pumpkins successfully.

[Alison]

I grew some for a work related charity competition a couple of years ago (we all bought a seed for 50p which went to a local hospice and the the heaviest won a prize) and lost the first couple to slugs so ended up picking the pumpkin I was trying to fatten up and rigging up a net system round it tied to the fence to keep it off the ground - not totally slug proof but at least they had to work a bit harder and climb up. Also made it easier to see any mountaineers when I do my torch light patrole after dusk!

[SueA]

Thanks Ailson I might try that although the slugs & snails in my garden are all expert climbers & abseilers & can reach almost anything. I wonder if you can smear the pumpkins with something that slugs don't like the taste of or maybe cover them with vaseline so that they slide off?

[k.chambers]

I was thinking of salt but I don't think that would work.

Kayleigh.

[dexterdoglancashire]

I tried salt earlier in the year and it seemed to work - also a cut grapefruit and an open jar with beer in it! Think the salt worked best Kayleigh. DDL