Alis girls Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 I have managed to grow an enormous pumpkin - bigger than a football - much bigger on the allotment. As I would like to grow as many as poss - and bearing in mind we are going on holiday soon, should I leave it, or pick it and wheres best to store. Garage is like a greenhouse, shed ? mouses in there. I am surprised as very little effort put in to it. wet and humid weather suits it. Pumpkin recipes gratefully recieved. i make soup and pie already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 if its a pumpkin it wont be ripe yet if its a summer squash it might be ready or not far off tap it with your knukle if it sounds hollow it's proberble ready Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted August 9, 2009 Author Share Posted August 9, 2009 It said pumpkin on packet SJP - its a green one, but with my luck (grew broad beans out of runner bean pack) I will tap it and see what happens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 It said pumpkin on packet SJP - its a green one, but with my luck (grew broad beans out of runner bean pack) I will tap it and see what happens it would be a green one there the ones i picked to early last year then didn't dry the properly the only 3 green ones I 've got are hubbard large blue true green hubbard muscade de provence all 3 are listed as mid late or late so I'm looking at late September early October with the blue and muscade (there the only 2 that have got fruit on but I'm hoping to store them till February for a display I might be putting on) but that all weather dependant I've got a musade that’s trebled in size since last week that I'll cut bank holiday weekend regardless if you decide to cut it leave it in the sun to dry for a while Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted August 10, 2009 Author Share Posted August 10, 2009 I might leave it and see how big it gets. Its huge now so by the time I get back I may need 10 strong men to help me lift it. ES is depsarate to pick it but I might leave it. I hope you manage to keep yours till Feb, but in the past I've found they start to go mushy and its a case of using it or losing it. thanks for advice. Whats your display of. If I still have one in feb I'll post it to you Poor postman staggering up the drive with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 I might leave it and see how big it gets. Its huge now so by the time I get back I may need 10 strong men to help me lift it. ES is depsarate to pick it but I might leave it. I hope you manage to keep yours till Feb, but in the past I've found they start to go mushy and its a case of using it or losing it. thanks for advice. Whats your display of. If I still have one in feb I'll post it to you Poor postman staggering up the drive with it I got one from last year thats stiil ok not one I listed It nearly 12 month old but that one ripened properly I've got 2 other verities that will keep up to 3 years if stored right in fact the pumpkins I got the seed out of were 2 years old but they need to ripen naturally a friend and I display spuds mainly but the big display is the end of the month at the sandwell show when put on a display of veg flowers and spud from the allotment usally covers 8+ Trestle tables there'll be about 30 verities of spuds hopfully 60 we dont compete it just to inform and educate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 They don't usually ripen until the end of September into October. You need to harvest before the frosts and in good weather because they benefit from being dried in the sun for a few days to harden the skin and dry the cut stem. We harvested ours quite late last year and left them under the front porch at half term when we were away, we had hard frosts and they went mushy quite quickly because they got frosted. I usually store mine in carboard apple boxes on the bumpy packaging layer in my summer house and cover with blankets when frost is forecast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 I store mine in the old pantry its north facing quarry tiled floor keeps cool but I had to harvest before they were ready due to the damp weather kept them in the green house until just before half term then had them on display at Painwick till the end of half term lost one a christmas them one in jan then all but one just after a display in feb so not to bad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
