Plan for the Fall!

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Although the chances are better that I'll get struck by lightning.

As long as we're all on lockdown, I figured it would be a good time for me to remind you to plan your garden for fall pumpkins! 

A quick search will reveal a number of seed companies, and I'm sure if you do a little research, you'll find some with good customer reviews. You can click here and here for full instructions about how to grow pumpkins.

I prefer the classic Howden pumpkin, myself. They're wonderful for carving! But if you're really ambitious and have a lot of space to play with, you might try these Big Max seeds. They can get upwards of 100 pounds!

In any case, it's a good time to consider growing your own pumpkins or other goodies for canning or preserving this coming harvest season!

Yard Stuff

We've been going through another hot spell here-100+ degrees-so I've been paying attention to the watering schedule a little more than usual. The pumpkins were planted at the end of May, since last year they weren't ready at Halloween. I saved the seeds from some pumpkins I bought at the store, so though I have six different varieties, I can only tell you the names of two or three of them. I bought some seeds, too: Wyatt's Wonder, Jack, and Howden. I have mini pumpkins, a tall, oblong varitey, and a medium-sized round type. Here they are, in progress!

A side-trip to the front yard to prune roses gave me a bit of a start. I caught a glimpse of color in the tree, and took a closer look:
Yup. Fall is absolutely on its way.

I feel like I have to apologize for the posts being so short lately. Every day, I've been out in the studio, working on projects, and the days zip by like a streaker on a football field. I'm not a fast builder, so everything seems to take more time than I think it will. School starts for me on the 22nd, so even less time will be available. I have an actual academic class added to my art class, so there will actually be some serious study going on! I need to keep my "A" average up!

Pumkin Carving to the 3rd Power

Halloween and pumpkins go hand and hand. Last year, I grew a pumpkin patch in my front yard (much to Mr. ShellHawk's dismay) to add to the ambiance. Sadly I planted too late to have any pumpkins ready for the big night, though I did stick a few store-bought ones around. (This year, though, I am prepared!)

In my quest for the 411 on growing pumpkins, I stumbled on a group of enthusiastic gardeners, a pumpkin-growing elite. These are the men and women who grow really big pumpkins.

Like, 900lbs big.

And where there are monster pumpkins, there are those who carve them.

Maybe one day, it'll be me carving one of those big boys! And for those of you who want to know the best technique to keep your pumpkins from going fuzzy before their time, go to My Science Project. It looks like they have the definitive answer!

Anyhoo, you can get certified organic pumpkin seeds from Seeds of Change. I like the Howden pumpkins they carry. You can also get tips on how to grow the Atlantic Giant Pumpkins here. You can get growing and general info about pumpkins at the Pumpkin Nook, or The Pumpkin Patch. If you order some seeds now, you can have them by late April or early May, in time to start growing your Atlantic Giant!