Skeleton Crew posted in the 2018 thread:

"I was wondering if some of the expert growers who have contributed to this thread may be able to share the best web site locations or places to mail order pumpkin / corn seeds. I'm mainly looking to grow traditional small to medium varieties."

If you are looking for generic seeds, I would recommend two places- Burpee Seeds and Baker seeds. Here is the link for Burpee: https://www.burpee.com/homepage?cid=PPC&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIopyr-qPN3wIVT1mGCh3ZpgzuEAAYASAAEgIc5_D_BwE . Here is the link for Baker seeds: https://www.rareseeds.com/.

I used Burpee for three or four years and had good success and others are fond of Baker. I don't think you can wrong with some of the others like Eden, I would just stay away from Walmart and Home Depot because those seeds could have sitting around for awhile. Though, I have known people who have germinated seeds that were several years old.

Good luck on your growing, and keep us posted at to how your plans are coming along.

 

I'll toss in the trio of Johnny's Seed, Territorial Seed, and RH Shumway.

They definitely cater more to farms than home growers, but all are good sources for pumpkins.

https://www.johnnyseeds.com/

http://www.territorialseed.com/

https://www.rhshumway.com/

 

I've bought seeds & plants on Etsy but they weren't pumpkin seeds but what I did buy were great, we just had the wettest year on record & that ruined everything but the tomatoes in my garden.

Every year I say "I'm going to plant ONE THING in the garden, just tomatoes, just melons, just pumpkin, just ONE THING!" and then I see how many different plants there are to grow & I end up with a lot of things.

 

Every year I say "I'm going to plant ONE THING in the garden, just tomatoes, just melons, just pumpkin, just ONE THING!" and then I see how many different plants there are to grow & I end up with a lot of things.

Totally agree. In 2019, marrows are now a contest vegetable at most pumpkin weigh-offs. I never heard of them before, never saw one before, and yet, I have the urge to plant one. Picture of a marrow is below:

 

Happy New Year, everyone!!

Alright, 2019 Thread is a go! Thanks for setting it up, Col!

As said at the end of the last thread, I decided to order some of the "Little October Pumpkin" mini pumpkin seeds that ooojen found and linked me to. https://www.botanicalinterests.com/product/Little-October-Pumpkin-Seeds They seem similar to the Wee Be Littles that I keep trying to grow and they never do well. (Can only find them in not so good seed brands). I have never ordered from this seed supplier, so we will see how it goes. A reviewer said she had a very high yield of these Little October Pumpkins just from one plant, so here's to hoping I get similar results! (My reason for wanting this type of pumpkin is that I paint them for the cemetery for my loved one's graves and a small pumpkin with a smoother surface than my JBLs is perfect.)

I asked in the previous year's thread if anyone had ordered from that site, before, or grown Little October Pumpkins.

As for the previous question about miniature varieties, this is what I tend to prefer to grow, especially Jack Be Littles. I like to use mostly Burpee for many of my seeds. I haven't ordered from their site, but usually buy mine from Menards with great results. The only other site I have ever ordered seeds from, besides the above, which is new, this year, to me, is Rainbow Seeds, where I get my California White Sage seeds from.

This year, along with my JBLs, I'll be trying out the above Little Octobers and some ornamental mini gourds, which I have yet to buy seeds for.

As I usually do, I am going to add a few pictures about male/female/hand pollnating and some links to pumpkin growing sites that are easy to understand and have lots of info and tips. I post these links, each year, for everyone to refer back to and to help out those new to pumpkin growing. Here are the pics and the links:

Female flower: Multi center stigma, short stem, round bump under bloom (baby pumpkin)
Male flower: single stamen, long stem, no bump.

Hand pollination: Remove male flower. Pull back petals. Brush pollen onto ALL parts of female center stigma. One male can be used to pollinate, at least, two females, depending on how much pollen is on stamen if bees and such have gotten to them. Both Males and Females are only open and ready for pollinating one day, early morning. Once they close up that day, pollination needs to have occurred or the female will abort the baby pumpkin. Pollen inside males starts to decline the later in the day it gets, so pollinate early am. Make sure pollen is ready by lightly touching and seeing if orangish yellow dust comes off readily on your finger. If not, it's too early and the pollen is not yet mature. Male flowers start to show up and bloom a couple weeks or so, give or take, before females to attract pollinators to the area. (Male flowers will generally fall off after their bloom. This is normal. Females fall off after a couple days, give or take, and then you will see the baby pumpkin begin to grow (pollinated) or rot and fall off (not pollinated or underpollinated). Further info is in the link, below. I have attached a photo of the way your pumpkin fine will grow according to it's first leaves, as well.

http://www.pumpkinnook.com/growing.htm

https://www.gardenguides.com/134166-fertilizer-pumpkins.html


**Last year was a fun, trial year, for me, as I decided to grow seeds that I harvested from found Jarrahdale and white pumpkins just to see what I would get...it was interesting, lol...but previous years you can see my progress with growing smaller varieties, and other's progress in a whole lot of varieties, mini, gourd to giants! check out previous years threads!! I'll link some previous years threads for those who are interested or need to check back for their own posts or such:

2018: https://www.halloweenforum.com/general-halloween/194665-pumpkin-growers-thread-2018-a.html

2017: https://www.halloweenforum.com/general-halloween/170962-pumpkin-patch.html

2016: https://www.halloweenforum.com/general-halloween/146479-2016-pumpkin-patch.html

2015: https://www.halloweenforum.com/general-halloween/140835-pumpkin-patch-2015-a.html

2014: https://www.halloweenforum.com/general-halloween/134630-2014-pumpkin-patch-thread.html


One other thing: I like to pre-germinate my pumpkin, squash and cucumber seeds. I use the baggie process:

Lightly dampen some paper towels and fold in half. Place the seeds with an inch or so space (for root growth) on one side, then fold over the top of them to form a square. Place into labeled plastic baggie, but do not seal, as you need air movement to keep from mold issues. Put baggie in dark, warm location. I set mine on top of our cable box in the tv stand, lol...warm and dark! Check each day to ensure paper towel stays lightly moist and hasn't dried, and to check for germination. Once you see the seeds open and roots start to pop out, I plant, either direct sow or into seed pots.

I like this process because I will know, for sure, which seeds will germinate and which will not before planting, saving time.


Okay, I think that's everything, for now. Use that Pumpkinook link, above, for info on seeds, germination, fertilizing, pollinating, and many other growing topics! Anything else you want to know, ask here and one of us may have an answer or educated guess for you from past experience! check back often for everyone's new photos and conversations! Here's to a great 2019 growing season, everyone!!

 

As for what I'm planting this year.

Bearing in mind, I purchase 100ish basketball sized pumpkins every year, I'm shooting for contrast in my growing.

Big Moose. My first time trying 'giant' pumpkins at the house. These average 50-125 lb, capable of 300+, but keep their shapes better than atlantic giants and tend to be squat and round. As I intend to carve the thing, the shape is appealing. Planning 3 plants.

Early Giant. Planting for the tall shape. Planning 5 plants.

Other decor items.

Purple majesty Millet.

Pumpkin on a stick

 

Pumpkin on a stick

Those are interesting. I am assuming they are tomatoes.

 

RCIAG, I always end up with more than I planned, too. I said I'd cut down, this year...we will see what happens, lol!

UnOrthodOx, yeah, I have heard of Johnny Seeds, though never ordered from them, yet. (Though, maybe it was you who spoke of them, lol!)

Lord_kobel, I have never heard of Morrows until you guys just spoke of them, here. Looking them up, I think they might be what our Zucchini are if we let them keep growing really big?? Is this correct? Anyone know?

UnOrthodOx, I love all of your choices!! I love both big, fat, round and really tall, thinner pumpkins, so both of those types of Giants look awesome, to me. I have never heard of the Millet...it's so beautiful! Now I want to grow pumpkin on a stick, too, lol.

 

I think they might be what our Zucchini are if we let them keep growing really big?? Is this correct? Anyone know?

They're the same family as courgettes (zucchinis) but not quite the same plant.See: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/digin/2010/07/gareth-austin-marrows-and-cour.shtml

 

I'll have to check out some sites and try to figure out which small, decorative gourds I want to try. There are so many kinds...and I have very little room. I'd like to be able to try and grow at least a couple fun, colorful ones to go with my JBLs and Little October pumpkins. I may just stick with Burpee if I can find what I want from there, but other sites have more varieties, sometimes.

Getting seeds that will produce plants and fruit with more disease and insect resistance would be nice...since our Winter hasn't been as cold or snowy as it should be, yet, I fear a LOT of insects will overwinter. I had soooooo many squash bugs, last year, and my first vine borer...I am worried!

 

I'll have to check out some sites and try to figure out which small, decorative gourds I want to try. There are so many kinds...and I have very little room. I'd like to be able to try and grow at least a couple fun, colorful ones.

Another option to consider, especially if your space is limited is growing colorful squash. The picture below is Delicata Squash. I planted three individual plants from seed and each plant had it's own unique way of growing the squash. They can be trained on a trellis but I just let mine grow underneath my pole beans. They're not nearly as space demanding as pumpkins.

They're about the same size as smaller gourds, but they're also edible and delicious. They're very similar to an acorn squash in flavor, and they store really well. These are the last of mine here in January, so they went through Halloween and Thanksgiving without a problem. It's just a way of using your space to create a colorful gourd-like critter that is also a nice side dish when you're tired of them.

 

Ooooh goodness...going over to the Johnny Seeds was a bad idea. There are several mini, small and gourd type seeds that I really want to grow!!! I have no room for all that I'd like to try, lol. Heck, there are even medium and large types that I love and wish I could grow!! Sigh...why did we buy a house with such a small back yard?? Our next house, a million years from now when we win the lottery, had better have lots of room for planting!

I see they have "Jill Be Littles"...I wonder how that differs from my Jack Be Littles??

Edit: I just looked at the other two sites UnOrthodOx linked, as well, and found even more. I'm doomed. How will I ever decide?!

(I'll more than likely just end up getting an ornamental gourd mix and planting a few to see what I end up with, lol. Too many to choose from.)

 

I really wanna try those pumpkins-on-a-stick that are NOT tomatoes. They're actually eggplants! Though I don't think they're edible.

https://parkseed.com/pumpkin-on-a-stick-eggplant-seeds/p/51648-PK-P1/

I might put those in our herb garden this year since they grow up & don't vine out.

 

I really wanna try those pumpkins-on-a-stick that are NOT tomatoes. They're actually eggplants!

Ah, I was going to guess chillies....

 

Yes, they be eggplants, and reportedly have thorns on the plant as well that folks remove for the dried arrangements as above. I'd think leaving thorns would make it look even more wicked. I tried them last year, but they didn't survive a late frost, so looking forward to seeing them in person this year.

 

Col. Fryght thanks for the information, as a novice I had no clue where to begin. I spent some time researching other blogs as well and have decided to purchase seeds from 5 different seed companies. I will be planting a variety of specialty corn (atomic orange, bloody butcher dent, and big horse spotted). I mainly want the corn stalks to use in my Halloween display but thought these varieties will offer some additional color. For pumpkins I will be planting harvested seeds (warty goblin and jack o lantern) in addition to seeds from online purchases from Burpee, Baker, Eden Brothers, Johnny Seeds and Rare Seeds. My desire is to use the pumpkins in my annual Halloween display; however I also want to transplant some of the pumpkins on their vines to use in the display as well. I will keep you posted on the progress.

 

Col. Fryght thanks for the information, as a novice I had no clue where to begin.

At least you have enough seeds that you can practice germinating them. I do like the paper towel method that WitchyKitty does but I also sometimes just put them in the dirt, especially if I wait until I can plant outside. Just remember that there is a small learning curve to germinating. Since I am getting into some expensive seeds ($20-60 a seed), I am going to hone my germination skills myself this year since I plan to start them indoors.

 

Always wanted to plant some bloody butcher corn.

 

I got my first order from "Botanical Interests" (...the site ooojen showed me that had a small, smoother pumpkin style that I might like for my pumpkin painting)!!

It came in the prettiest little box, and it had a semi sheer, pretty paper that said "Happy Growing" in it when you opened it up. Besides the "Little October" pumpkin seeds and mixed "Cat Grass" seeds that I ordered, they sent me a seed starting how to pamphlet and a Thank You packet of Lettuce seeds! Aww! How cool! I have never grown any lettuce, yet. I may have to give it a shot! It'll give me something to do while I wait for warmer weather growing season to start! I can't wait to try these pumpkin seeds!!

Lol, I just thought I'd share for anyone considering ordering from there.

 

Wow, I really got behind! I love the level of enthusiasm that's already here (and thanks Col., for starting the new thread!)

I order from Burpees and Baker Creek, and have also had good luck with Jungs and Seed Savers Exchange.
I am one of those who regularly plants old seed. In fact, I'll usually keep planting out of a pack until the seeds are gone. Even with seeds that are 5 years old, I don't see much reduction in germination rate, nor in plant vigor. Most sites on seed viability say pumpkin seeds should be good for 4 or 5 years if you store them in a cool dark place. I like to get a variety of different looks, so I don't usually plant a lot of the same thing at once and the pks last a while. I also don't plant a bunch of seeds per hill and then thin. (For that matter, I don't hill, either. Such a maveric -- haha! I try to do things the easy way, and as long as I have success, I continue that way.)
I have lots of leftover seeds, myriad gourds plus Seminole, Jarrahdale, One Too Many, Early Giant, Rouge Vif, JBL, WBL, Victor (Red Warty), and Musquee de Provence pumpkins. So I really didn't need a lot of new varieties, and I limited myself (so far) to just a couple additional ornamental (C. pepo) gourd species and a few additional pumpkins-- Wyatt's Wonder, Toad Hybrid, Orange Cutie (I've grown those before and really liked them), Jamboree, Mr. Fugly, and Goosebumps II. Wait, that's a lot! How did that happen?? (I also have Tiny Turk decorative squash/gourd/whatever.) Most of the new pumpkins are C. maxima--only Goosebumps is C. pepo. I intend to make more effort to plant the same species together this year. (We'll see. It would make things handier when I hand pollinate, and should make for a better bee-assisted success rate.) I still intend to pick up a pack of Peanut pumpkins. I ran out of seeds for those.

WitchyKitty-- Sorry I didn't check back sooner, and I know it's moot now, but no I haven't tried Botanical Interests myself. I did check out the reviews before I linked them. I hope your luck with "Little October" is as good as what others seem to have. There are always many factors involved, but here's to a great growing year for all of us! It certainly looks like Botanical Interests cares about their customers. The little extras and the cute presentation are sweet.

UOO - I like the look of Big Moose. If I had more space I'd add a plant or two. If I see the seeds in a store I might still cave. Wyatt's Wonder should be enough for me for this year, though. Early Giant worked out VERY well in my climate. They were healthy all season right up until frost, and mostly produced in runs of 3. Very nice variety.
The purple millet looks cool! That would make an amazing maze planting.
My "pumpkins on a stick" eggplants started out strong, but we had a lot of rain and wind, which caused my popcorn to blow down on top of the eggplants. They were probably pushing 4' tall when they got smooshed. I got some fruit from them, but no individual stalks were heavily laden. A lot of the developing fruit broke off, so what I got at harvest was scattered here and there. They're cute though. I'll give them another chance and keep the tall stuff planted farther away.

Skeleton Crew -- I have a weakness for ornamental corn, too, though my primary interest is the ears. (I have access to more cornstalks than I could possibly use.)
If folks here don't mind a few off-season off-topic pictures, at some point I'll post some of what I grew last year.

Edit in: Hahaha! We have a Great Pyrenees, and I now see that she added a hair to the "Pumpkin" eggplant. Sorry, I didn't notice when I took the shot.

 

https://www.johnnyseeds.com/vegetab...etables/pumpkins/naples-long-pumpkin-seed-691.html?cgid=pumpkins#sz=18&start=73

Really, Johnny's Seeds? That picture is just wrong.

 

I, too, save my seeds that I don't use out of the packs and keep them in a cool, dry place in a paper shopping bag (a lower kitchen cabinet that I have is perfect for my seed storage.) I have been able to use them until the packets are finally empty, too, year after year, with fine germination rates. It's all in how you store them. Just make sure it's as dark, cool and dry as possible.

ooojen, I saw that in the reviews for the Little October, they were a high yield plant...even just off one plant. So, since I have sparse room for planting, the more I can get off of one plant, the better!! Here's to hoping the weather will be better for growing, though, than last year. It doesn't matter how good your seeds are or how good a grower you are if Mother Nature doesn't cooperate!!

Oh, and I have four cats...there is fur on everything, lol. I try desperately to clean it all day, every day, and it's a losing battle. I try to, at least, keep it out of pictures, hahaha...I don't always win at that, either. The joys of furry babies!

 

Well, it is obvious that Botanical Interest is catering to lady growers. Those are the prettiest seed packs that I have ever seen. If a guy ran the company it would be a white pack with the the word Pumpkin across the front. lol The artwork does make you feel like you are planting a classic heirloom plant.

 

Hahahaha!!! That's too funny.

Well, regardless as to what gender decorated the seed packets, I hope they are good seeds!

 

The delicata forms are interesting! Were they from a seed exchange where they might have a few "stray" genes? Kind of fun to get a variety of looks, if they still taste typical of the variety. Mine have always been elongated, like the one on the right. They're only mediocre keepers, but the fact that they're not hard as rocks makes them easier to prepare, and they are delicious.

 

All three types of Delicata squash came from the same Ed Hume seed package. Ed Hume is a local Northwest company, so perhaps their stock is genetically different from other companies. I planted the seeds in pots and transplanted three of the squash out into the garden. Each plant created a squash that had a different look and size. Despite their different appearance, they all tasted pretty much the same. I saved seeds from all three in different packs. I'm curious if they will all fruit true to the style of squash or if they'll just be all over the board again. I didn't seem to have any problems with them keeping. However, they were inside the whole time, so that probably helps. The pumpkins outside didn't last nearly as long.

 

Jungs, seed packs designed by Manly Men:

(Don't get wrapped up in the "Non GMO" BS. There are no GMO pumpkins on the market.)

 

(Don't get wrapped up in the "Non GMO" BS.

I was going to say that I didn't think Many Manly Men would fall for that anti science rubbish...

 

I can see this is going to be a useful thread for me. I call myself the "haphazard gardener" because I tend to learn by doing, and screwing up, rather than researching ? I try to be a good little gardener but it usually takes me a few tries to get things right. 2018 was my first honest to goodness pumpkin patch and the thing I learned was that pumpkins need sunlight to turn them orange. I had planted in a sunny spot but the runners went out under the trees so I got 5 medium sized green pumpkins. This year, I swear I'm going to do things right!

I have read that pumpkins should be started directly into the soil but I was wondering if starting them indoors is a viable option? We have a short growing season here so I'm looking for ways to maximize the time I have.

 

I can see this is going to be a useful thread for me. I call myself the "haphazard gardener" because I tend to learn by doing, and screwing up, rather than researching �� I try to be a good little gardener but it usually takes me a few tries to get things right. 2018 was my first honest to goodness pumpkin patch and the thing I learned was that pumpkins need sunlight to turn them orange. I had planted in a sunny spot but the runners went out under the trees so I got 5 medium sized green pumpkins. This year, I swear I'm going to do things right!

I have read that pumpkins should be started directly into the soil but I was wondering if starting them indoors is a viable option? We have a short growing season here so I'm looking for ways to maximize the time I have.

Check out my post on the first page of this thread (or post #5, depending on how you have your pages set to show up on this forum.). I posted some helpful tips, pictures and links to sites that have fantastic info for learning to grow pumpkins/gourds/squash.

I do both, direct sow of my seeds and start indoors. I have never had issues starting indoors, as long as you make sure to harden them off, like other seeds grown indoors, and to make sure you keep as much of the soil around the roots as possible, as the roots tend to not like to be disturbed and can be delicate. Either use seed starter pots that you just plant with the seedling right in the ground that break down or, if growing in something that cannot be planted, like a plastic starter or pot, do as i said and try as hard as you can to get all the soil and not jostle those roots too much when transplanting from pot to the ground.

(With the biodegradable seed starting pots that you pop right into the ground, I tend to, carefully, tear the bottom of the pot open a bit to give the roots an easier start into the ground, but leave the rest of the pot intact so protect the roots while planting into the ground.)

I, actually, prefer to start them indoors for two reasons: the first being I get a little earlier of a head start and more growing/maturing time, the second being is that I can which way the main vine is going to go BEFORE I plant them in the ground and can plant them in the direction that I wish for them to go. (I posted a pic of how to tell on that first page post I made that I was talking about...it has to do with the first true leaves.

 

I swear that pumpkin bugs appear out of nowhere! I don't see how a plot of land that has never had pumpkins on it can attract pumpkin bugs. It's like they appear out of thin air!

Aggravating.

 

It's very hard to think about the growing season when we just got a foot of snow in the last 2 days with more expected next weekend.

The only "gardening" I'm thinking about right now is getting my husband out with the trimmers to take down some dogwood limbs that are hanging over our driveway over the power lines going into the house.

 

Yeah...we just got about 6 to 8 inches on Saturday, freezing rain, tonight, then they are calling for another snowstorm this weekend. Sigh...planting time is soooooo far away...

 

I also suggest to check with your local extension agent in your county for advice. They're the experts in your exact area & growing season & needs.

I keep saying that one day I'm going to take the Master Gardener course our county offers. Right now I work the days they offer the classes so if the Feds ever get off their collective butts & get my husband back to work I may do it. One day. Eventually.
https://extension.umd.edu/mg/locations/montgomery-county-master-gardeners

You have to do some volunteer time at the Ag History Farm Park nearby & at the county fair, but I do think I'd enjoy it. It's not cheap but not as expensive as losing a bunch of plants over the years or as expensive as an education to be come a landscape architect or something landscape related.

 

I live in a sparsely populated county so I'm not aware of any classes or anything. I will check around and see if there's anything out there that is hiding!

 

Here's the Washington State University extension locations
http://pubs.cahnrs.wsu.edu/locations

 

Haha! Something for Halloween brunch!
I can get a few GMO seeds from my local retailers (Co-ops), but in a minimum of 50 pound bags, and like I said, no pumpkins. Yep, no home gardener is going to have them slipped in unrecognized. (There are GMO Curcurbits -- summer squash, but they're one of only 10 approved products, anyway.)
That said, if there were bee-friendly but rootworm beetle and SVB resistant GMO pumpkins, I'd be on board!

 

SVB resistant GMO pumpkins, I'd be on board!

Amen to that!