The pumpkins in my plot are ripening fast. Under big leaves and overgrown weeds, orange and green fruits. Something about pumpkins means summer’s over. One of the last crops. A grand finale.
This year I grew Baby Pam (a small sweet pie pumpkin), Big Rock (a 20lb Jack-O-Lantern type) and Jarrahdale (a ribbed gray pumpkin that I look forward to tasting). All have done very well. So far I’ve picked three and eaten one Baby Pam – grated into pumpkin bread. Yummy. About 5 more Baby Pam’s are on the vines. I have two Big Rocks, about half orange now. I’m guessing 15 pounders. (Last year’s my single Big pumpkin was 11 lbs.)
I’m growing Jarrahdale pumpkins for the first time this year. The mottled green ribs are very interesting. They’ll turn gray when ripe. I’ve been told they’re good eating (“soft, melon-like aroma, delicious flesh that is bright orange, very firm, very little stringiness”). I have two enormous plants, 4 or 5 fruits growing, though more keep coming. They hide well and grow fast. Two big ones are hanging from the vines up on my fence. My guess is they are 6-8 lbs now. I was advised to build a support for them to rest on, but it seems to me the vines are thick and strong enough to support them unassisted. I hope I’m right.
I got my pumpkin soup recipe out. A creamy version with leeks that is served in the hollowed out pumpkin shell. Took me a while to find it, but I did. Bet it will be great for a big gray Jarrahdale with bright orange flesh.
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Can you share your pumpkin soup recipe? Please…. ???? Pretty please??? With whipped cream on top?
We grew two beautiful pumpkins one year…by accident! The year before we had carved our pumpkins near the front porch. The next year, all of a sudden, this huge vine begins to grow…across the walkway, up onto the porch…everywhere. It was beautiful. And we got two pumpkins for Halloween…one big and one small. It was so great!
Gorgeous!
I now have pumpkin envy. So much so that I put your pumpkin photo up and a link to it on my blog.
Lovely post.
Kathy-
My favorite time of the year! Your Jarrahdale are just beautiful. Your picture of it hanging on the fence looks so very similar to my post a few days ago. The only exception was it was a Buttercup. You just can't tell squash where to grow!
Liisa, I'll post the recipe soon. I'd like to make the soup and post it then with pictures. Or maybe I'll post the recipe sooner. it was really good.
That's a great pumpkin story Michelle!
Thanks Aunty Belle. It looks nice on your blog.
And definitely, squashes grow wherever they want to. And IF they want to.
I did see another bumper crop of Butternuts down the street from me this afternoon. As I drove by, the yard has about 20-30 manila colored squashes under a canopy of fading vines. I'll have to walk by soon with my camera. Maybe even find the gardener to say hi.
Hi Kathy! I saw a couple of people use an piece of an old sheet or a tablecloth to create a cradle for the pumpkins. It does look pretty but is cheap and easy — and you can tie to the fence.
A very good idea. Nice and simple.
Oh, I love pumpkins. Just found your blog today and am enjoying it greatly. Your photos are beautiful.
I have three beautiful french red pumpkins; my first pumpkins ever! I read somewhere one let's the vines die before the fruit is ready to pick. How do I know when they are ready for my kitchen?
Wow, they look all great. Is the fence as supporting as the vines are?