[yardhauntjunkie]

My wife and I just purchased our first new house. We found out early on in our relationship that we both liked Halloween, so having our own pumpkin patch has always been of interest to us. When looking at houses this house already had a built in raised bed. I instantly knew that is where I wanted my pumpkin patch. However, I didn't know if southern Cali (the Valley to more precise) was a good place to grow pumpkins. So I planted them anyway.

 

[yardhauntjunkie]

The patch before planting.

 

[Trinity1]

Only one way to find out! Looking forward to seeing your progress!

 

[Blarghity]

Good luck. Just hope you don't end up with my problem. I can grow ridiculously awesome and healthy squash of all types, including pumpkins... but the NEVER bear fruit! It has been six or seven years since the last time I actually got a squash, pumpkin or melon from a plant growing in my yard in spite the fact that they always end up being spectacularly vigorous monsters.

 

[yardhauntjunkie]

So I planted the pumpkin seeds on April 24th. Two generic pumpkin seeds and one jumbo seed in each mound. Then...............

NOTHING HAPPENED!!!!!!!!

However my mom planted some of the leftover seeds in toilet paper rolls in an extra pot in the container garden. Then on May 3rd this little guy popped up in one of the toilet paper rolls!!!

 

[Saki.Girl]

there is a 2014 pumpkin patch thread you should check out

http://www.halloweenforum.com/general-halloween/134630-2014-pumpkin-patch-thread-24.html

 

[yardhauntjunkie]

Then on May 27th some of the starts in the toilet paper rolls got big enough to plant, but none of the seeds in the bed had come up. So I planted the starts in the mounds.

 

[yardhauntjunkie]

May 17th was when the first of the corn starts got planted in the bed.

 

[yardhauntjunkie]

May 26th enough of the starts were big enough so that all 15 mounds had a plant.

 

[yardhauntjunkie]

Well actually 14 of the mounds because this guy was the first of the original seeds in the mound to pop up. All the rest were starts.

 

[yardhauntjunkie]

This was also on May 26th, the first two rows of corn had done pretty well.

 

[yardhauntjunkie]

Fast forward to June 13th and the leaves had started to get fairly big and the corn in the background can be seen getting a little taller.

 

[yardhauntjunkie]

June 16th the plants were starting to fill in the bed.

 

[yardhauntjunkie]

June 16th was also the first appearance of blooms.

 

[yardhauntjunkie]

What pumpkin patch would be complete without a stray black cat that just decided to lay down also on June 16th.

 

[yardhauntjunkie]

This one is from June 18th. Filling out the bed pretty good.

 

[yardhauntjunkie]

I love this picture of the blooms on June 18th.

 

[yardhauntjunkie]

June 19th was the first appearance of this little guy.

 

[yardhauntjunkie]

June 20th. One o my favorite pictures from the pumpkin patch so far.

 

[yardhauntjunkie]

June 20th.