Treats from the Pumpkin Patch

By: Denise Foley

Find out just how great this fall favorite really is.

Just in Time

If you want pumpkins in October, timing is key. Seeds won't germinate unless the soil is at least 60 degrees. So if warmer weather is slow to come to your area, get a jump on the season by starting your plants indoors. Just check maturation dates for the varieties you’re growing; some can be as short as 50 days.

Keep the Seeds!

A pumpkin's bounty doesn’t end with cake, muffins, or pie. Save those seeds and whip up yet one more treat, courtesy of your pumpkin patch. Read this article for roasting pumpkin seeds:

Roasting Pumpkin Seeds

Quick Tips

Use drip irrigation to keep soil evenly moist and leaves dry. This helps reduce the risk and spread of disease.
Avoid problems with cucumber beetles and squash bugs (especially in late summer) by handpicking small populations.

Jack, Who?

The tradition of carving Jack-O'-Lanterns came from Ireland, based on the legend of a man they called "Stingy Jack." He was an "unfortunate lost soul" left to roam the earth with only a burning coal inside a turnip to light the way--hence the name Jack-O'-Lantern. The Irish would place these lanterns on their window sills on All Hallows Eve (October 31) to welcome home the spirits of their ancestors while warding off evil spirits.

As in the legend, the first Jack-O'-Lanterns were actually made out of turnips, beets, or potatoes. It wasn't until Irish immigrants settled in the U.S. they began using pumpkins because they were cheaper.

Pumpkins are equally delectable served as a vegetable, pureed as soup, cooked into stews or baked into breads, cakes, and muffins. Plant some yourself and enjoy having them right at your fingertips!

Room to Grow

When planting pumpkins at home, be sure you plan for a healthy-sized area for them to grow.

Some experts suggest 50 to 100 square feet per hill, but you can manage with far less by carefully rearranging the vines (which can grow to 25 feet) when they became too nomadic. You’ll need more space if you have your sights set on growing giant pumpkins--at least 300 square feet of it.
Plant four to five seeds an inch deep in a pumpkin hill, which is simply an 18-inch mound of enriched soil that receives full sun.
Leave five to six feet between hills for vining types, three to four feet for semi-vining.
Once seeds sprout, leave two or three of the best seedlings per hill.

Growing mini pumpkins take up much less room, so you can plant two or three seeds every two feet if planting in a row. Just be sure to choose the best plant at each two-foot interval after the leaves emerge.

Harvest with Care

Harvest pumpkins when they are a deep, solid color (orange for most varieties) and the rind is hard.

Pumpkins are usually mature and ready for picking in late September or early October, as long as you don’t have an early frost.
When you're ready to harvest, cut the vine with pruning shears or a sharp knife, leaving a three- to four-inch stem. (Pumpkins with handles keep longer.)
Avoid cutting or bruising the pumpkins when handling them. Injured fruits don’t stay fresh long.

If you're not using them right away, store in a cool (50- to 55-degree), dry location.

Contact your local garden center or horticulture extension office to find out what grows best in your own backyard.

Good Choices for Cooking

The pumpkins you raise for Halloween decor are often too watery and tasteless for cooking. Try one of these varieties instead:

Small Sugar
New England pie pumpkins
Baby Pam or Lumina (these are white)
Well-seasoned chefs rely on the crook-necked pumpkin, which looks like a neck cushion and has bright orange, nearly string-less flesh that makes a perfect puree for baking.

Simply peel it, remove the seeds, cut into three- or four-inch pieces, and boil in a small amount of water for about 30 minutes. Using a food mill or food processor, puree the softened pumpkin until it's the consistency of applesauce.

Think about the mini pumpkins, too. They're not all for cooking, but hollow them out and you have a cute serving dish for pumpkin custard or soup!

Soups and Stews