[WitchyKitty]

Oh, yay!! The new pumpkin thread! I have my seeds, and my little mini pumpkin garden plot is all cleaned up, but the weather has been way too cold to start planting. I planted at the beginning of June last year and had a great turn out, so I will most likely wait until then again...or late May, at the earliest. IF it ever warms up, anyway. The way the weather has been with below average temps, I worry I won't be able to start planting until July!! I had my mini pumpkins growing up to and along my garage roof last year...it was CRAZY! Lol, I think I may keep them snipped back this year a little and only let them grow up to the roof, but not along it. It looked awesome, but was killer difficult to keep up with and trained. We shall see when the time comes.

 

[WitchyKitty]

They look awesome, Saki!! I'm excited to watch the progress of everyone's pumpkins and gourds this year! I simply cannot wait to get mine started. It'll probably be about a month before I can plant, yet, since it's still so darn chilly here. The wait is killing me. Right now I'm just trying to appease myself with my Sage and other herb seedlings, lol, but it's not working...I need my pumpkins!! They make me happy!!
I envy those of you who can plant lots of different pumpkins and gourds...I can only do my JBL's again this year. I have the room...but not the sunlight. Way too much shade in my back yard. I was quite proud of my upright mini pumpkin patch last year, though, and so were my neighbors, lol...and I am hoping to be proud of it again this year!
It's amazing how the Pumpkin Patch thread...and also the (Fall) Scents and Fragrances thread...can get me immediately in the mood for Fall!

 

[WitchyKitty]

UnOrthodOx, or anyone who knows, I was wondering, about how big do the Sugar/Pie pumpkin plants/vines get in comparison to larger pumpkin vines and mini (JBL) pumpkin vines? Right now, I have been doing the JBLs simply because I can grow them upwards and take up a small area of space...but I was wondering if the Sugars/Pies would also be possible to plant in a smaller area. I have some sunny area in my back yard...just not enough to plant full size pumpkin vines. I've been looking online to get info about size on the vines for those varieties, but I'd like to hear what you guys have to say from experience with them!

 

[WitchyKitty]

The sugars are about the same size vines as the minis in my experience. You MIGHT even get away with trellising them...I think I just might try that this year.

There's also pumpkin varieties that claim to be bush or semi bush, so they don't spread out. I don't really have any experience with them, however. "Cheyenne Bush" is a particular one that interests me as it looks like good carving size where most are on the small side.

Hmmm...I'll have to go wandering in my yard to see if I could come up with a space for some sugars...
A bush type of pumpkin would be IDEAL! I haven't seen anything like that in seeds in my area, though, but maybe I'll have to check online...if you find and decide to grow a bush pumpkin, I hope to see how it goes for you.

 

[WitchyKitty]

Howdens are what I planted. I really didn't know what that meant, it's just what was on the shelf in the nursery I bought them from.

A Howden is a basic, good type for a carving pumpkin. Round or slightly tall oval, orange, thick flesh/skin, sturdy handle and about 15lbs-30lbs. They tend to be a type stores sell around Halloween for carving Jack-o-Lanterns.

 

[WitchyKitty]

Hmmm...I checked online for the Cheyenne Bush Pumpkin seeds...but the few places I found that sold them are currently sold out. I guess I will have to save that thought for next year. I will have to keep an eye out for them. In the meantime, I'll be happy with my JBL's.

 

[WitchyKitty]

Since I can't plant yet, I'm currently taking "orders" from family and friends for my seedlings, lol. I can only use a plant or two in my yard at the moment, which leaves many of my babies without homes. So, I pass out the extra seedlings to people I know who want them. Since last year I had 100% of my JBL seedlings germinate, I had lots to go around. I'm hoping for a similar turnout this year! I did the pre-plant seed soak in baggies (or did I use cups...I simply cannot remember) last year, too, so I'm sure I will be doing that again this year. It's looking like May 24th will be around my planting date, since it seems the weather may finally stay warmer at that point. Right now it gets warm, then cool, then hot, then back to cool...it's crazy!

 

[WitchyKitty]

Question - does anyone know why they discontinued the foam blown jack-o-lanterns? I am not real keen on the the plastic ones. Did the foam lit ones let off some sort of toxic gas? I don't have them indoors so I would think that wouldn't be a problem. But if they also created carcinogens or used fossil fuels or the skin of dead babies then I would probably not want to use them however I think they were pretty safe.

I've looked online "google" and the only place I can find any is on e-bay. Now I do shop at Goodwills all around and every place I get a chance to go but these are still few and far between. I've only got about 40 pumpkins but can always use more.

Do you mean carvable foam ones like funkins? Most pumpkins like that aren't available for sale until mid summer, early fall, when the Harvest/Halloween merchandise starts to come out. I don't usually see them for sale year round...unless you randomly find one in places like ebay and such.

 

[WitchyKitty]

Not so much the carvable ones, I haven't yet tried to tackle that feat of artism at this point. I'm not so much looking to buy any now but I haven't seen the pre-fab'ed carved ones for sale at any stores but Goodwill.

Oh, okay. Hmmm...well, probably the same thing, see if they come back around Fall time with the rest of the Fall/Halloween decor...I can't think off the top of my head if I saw any pre-carved foam ones last season or not...hope you find some!

 

[WitchyKitty]

I don't have any pumpkin plants because I don't have a garden area big enough, I can only grow a few tomato, peppers and herbs. I do have some venus fly traps starting to sprout and grow their first non-active traps.
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Awesome! They will be really neat full grown. I had one when I was younger. As for pumpkins and space, you could always do Jack-Be-Little Pumpkins like I do each year, if you don't have room. You can either plant them in ground and train them up a trellis, or you can plant them in a large planter. I have done both with great results!! I have pics in last years Pumpkin Patch thread...and also in my personal albums, if you want to see how I did it. Barely took up any space, especially in the pot. (Well, the one On the trellis got a bit carried away, lol, only because I let it...this year I may tip it at a certain point to keep it a bit smaller along my roof. )

 

[WitchyKitty]

It's so exciting!! Your seedlings look great, guys! Saki, I can't wait to see how your garden fills in...an interesting and cool layout!
I just need to get through this cold week we have coming then I can start, too!!!!!! It's crazy, it's almost 90 degrees today, and will drop to the low 60's, upper 50's for highs through the week. Illinois weather just keeps getting weirder each year, lol.

 

[WitchyKitty]

We are having weird weather in Texas, too. It has been in the 90s and tomorrow high will be 60. Storming right now and sky is black. I hate this time of year. Hope the tornados stay away.

Storming here, too. It's odd that Texas and Illinois would be having the same weather at the same time, lol. It keeps raining so heavy on and off with high winds these past few days that I'm glad my seedlings weren't started yet...they would've drown or blown over and broke! As it is my herb seedlings are quite drenched...

 

[WitchyKitty]

Just put my JBL seeds in a baggie with damp paper towels!! Yays! We will see if this works out for me as well as just soaking them did last year. I was kind of depressed that I only got 17 seeds in my packet, when it was supposed to be 25. I hope they all germinate, because with 8 less seeds, I will need nearly every one of them now! I have 3 other people waiting on seedlings from me, besides my own! Wish me germination luck!

 

[WitchyKitty]

My seeds haven't even been in their baggie for 48 hours and I already see them sprouting roots!!! Yays! There's a few that haven't sprouted yet, so I'll give them a little more time before I plant. During the day I set them in the sun and at night I set them on top of my cable box with the glass tv stand door closed...like a little incubation station, lol. They must like it in there.

 

[WitchyKitty]

Alright, my seeds have germinated and are now in the ground (and pots, for those going to different homes). Now, we wait and see if they keep up the good work and sprout!

 

[WitchyKitty]

I'd love to plant some white ones but there are no seeds for them in my area. Bummer!

You don't have a Home Depot or a Menards? They both carry white big and mini ones...usually by Burpee name brand.

 

[WitchyKitty]

I have green!! My seeds are beginning to sprout. I'll get pics later when they pop up a little more. We have storms coming in tonight and tomorrow, so let the defending of the seedlings now commence! Hahaha!

 

[WitchyKitty]

Here are a few pics of my tiny little new Jack Be Little pumpkin sprouts! They are just starting to peek up! I have two in the ground (the weaker of the two will be removed when they get a bit bigger and I see which is best...) and the potted ones will go to new homes. I have one other larger pot that has yet to sprout, but it was just extras that were germinating slower than the rest. If they sprout, I'll have back ups for myself in case of loss of the others.

 

[WitchyKitty]

Walmart also carries jack'o lantern seeds and big max pumpkin seeds, but an off brand.

Killerhaunts is looking for white varieties...I can't remember if I saw white ones at Walmart or not in the seeds they carry. Do you remember? I only know I saw them at Menards and Home Depot.

 

[WitchyKitty]

Witchy Kitty, I absolutely love the mini pumpkin patch sign. I will post pics tomorrow of my guys, I would just like to give them one more day to look their best.


View attachment 198907

I made a mini sign last year for my JBL's, too. Once they get bigger, they over take my poor sign, lol. It's still cute for the time being, though!
Those two seedlings in that pic are already opening up more and getting bigger, just in the few hours since I took this pic! Crazy little growers, they are!