Replacement Pumpkin Dilemma

[Florence Fennel]

You remember the saga of last year's pumpkin that my granddaughter didn't get to carve, even though she was one of the few in the class that took one to school? You remember the lump that it brought to your throat when she handed me a little packet with tears in her eyes and said "It doesn't matter Nanny, I brought you some seeds"? Only one germinated, but I planted it out when it was big enough and made a sign with her name on it. The blasted snugs have demolished it almost completely. Do I try to rescue it and tell her? Do I swap the signs and hope she doesn't remember which one it was and not tell her? Is it too late to try again with another of the seeds? Decisions, decisions. Assistance please.

[Thelma Sanders]

I just resowed a Crown Prince that got eaten, and in the prop it was up in 2 days - that's what I'd do. If she sees it and thinks it's a bit small tell her the slugs ate SOME of it

[marchogaeth]

^^^^^ what she said. The way this year is going it'll probably overtake everything that's already struggling through the trials and tribulations of life. I'd keep another couple in reserve, too!!

[yekim_4321]

If only you were closer i have a pumpkin plant that i'm struggling to place......its growing ever so well in its pot but i'm an eternal optomist (i still think i'll win the lottery and we will have a summer) so i would say 'nothing ventured nothing gained' sow some more

[eirish]

Awww...how old is she? I'd lean toward sowing some more and telling her the truth, myself, but I don't have kids so may not know what I'm talking about.

[binley100]

Flo I've just sown more courgettes etc and they're popping up ......worthwhile having a go .

[Ja9]

The curcurbits are not a happy lot at the moment...too wet!
My 6 yr olds cucumber has gone limp and yellow. The only pumpkin we managed to carve last year that was home grown went rapidly mouldy inside!
I think it does depend upon how old your granddaughter is but part of growing plants is not giving up at the failures and having another go. I would get her some seeds for her to sow and do her own labels...with some reserves too! Good luck

[kathyd]

If they still have some for sale in the shops, I'd also be buying a spare just in case my seeds didn't germinate or whatever. I'm a great believer in covering all bases if at all possible! Good luck.

[shona_b]

I'd take a look for a plant - i got an atlantic giant plant from Tesco reduced to 15p

[bearded bloke]

I've got Atlantic Giant seeds here Flo (opened last month) got 100% germination PM me details & will bung the packet in the post

[Florence Fennel]

Awww...how old is she? I'd lean toward sowing some more and telling her the truth, myself, but I don't have kids so may not know what I'm talking about.

She's nine eirish and I think you may be right, she can sow them herself if I come clean.

[Florence Fennel]

I've got Atlantic Giant seeds here Flo (opened last month) got 100% germination PM me details & will bung the packet in the post

Thanks very much for the offer BB but I have plenty of different varieties of seed here too. The seeds we will be sowing are from last year's pumpkin that she took to school. There are some seeds left, I just hope they germinate. Thanks everyone for your help. She can sow three or four and fingers crossed when they germinate, she can choose the strongest to pot up and eventually plant out.

[eirish]

And you can introduce her to the joys of snug-squashing!

[Bren In Pots]

She can sow three or four and fingers crossed when they germinate, she can choose the strongest to pot up and eventually plant out.

That's the best way to go about it Flo, but you do know she'll want to plant all 4 of them if they germinate.

[bearded bloke]

Yep,what Bren says ^^^^ just don't let her near the courgette seeds