Okay, so how big are your pumpkins?

[meltedmarsbars]

Line up please!

Tape measure or weight accepted.



(haven't actually measure or weighed mine but intend to at some point)

[fidelma]

ok maybe tomorrow.Not huge but not bad want them for halloween

[meltedmarsbars]

Hooray! Someone has accepted the challenge!

I'm carpet cleaning tomorrow so it might be the day after before I get out with my tape measure (they're not at home - they're on the allotment).

Did you scratch your initials on it with your penknife?

[fidelma]

no should I ?

[Meglet]

The size of walnuts . Something has gone wrong somewhere .

[meltedmarsbars]

when you cut your name into it early in the summer it means no-one can nick it and you can watch your name grow!

Meglet - sorry! Better luck next year.

[Whoamireally]

Are pumpkins one of those plants where you need 2 of them to get any pumpkins at all?

I have none this year. At all.

[meltedmarsbars]

I dunno - I always grow far too many!

Mine did struggle to get going this year because of the dry spell after I put them in.

[Whoamireally]

Sooo jammy (meltedmarsbars not the pumpkins. at idea of pumpkin jam). There's obviously a knack, as every year I've tried I've failed!

[anonymousbird]

Effing enormous and bleeding loads of them... pissing down here, but will measure tomorrow. Can't weigh as not ripe yet, hanging on for halloween time (then vats of spicy pumpkin soup no doubt.....)

[meltedmarsbars]

Roll up! Roll up, results are coming in!

So, have been to allotment with tape measure, here are the (not very accurate or independently verified) results...



In fourth place: 51"

In third place: 52"

In second place: 59"



In first place in the Meltedmarsbars' Pumpkin Competition 2010,

A whopping 64"! (had to guess that measurement as the tape wouldn't fit round!)

Lets hear yours now please!

[anonymousbird]

I take my hat off to you.... The biggest I can muster is about 45 inches round. I have two or three about that size.

Our tape measure is missing, so this is best estimate of the diameter of approx 14-15 inches and then being very clever and using algebra to work out the rest!!! (after googling how to do so ).

[WynkenBlynkenandNod]

Pathetic. Went to the allotment after a gap over the summer to find one tiny solitary orange pumpkin sitting there all on its own where the plant had withered and died away to nothing.

I do have a couple more lurking at home but they are still rubbish. My friend has a huge pumpkin patch as she didn't realise how big the plants got and buried in the middle is the biggest pumpkin I have ever seen, definitely a two person job to lift it. I have pumpkin envy.

[meltedmarsbars]

Anonymous - thats pretty good! I'm impressed with the maths.


Go on, Wynken, do some guerrilla measuring on your frined's patch - foster pumpkins will count!

[MumsieNonna]

foster pumpkins

[mamatilly]

oo just going to find a tape measure - back soon!

[mamatilly]

that was fun!

have four juicy pumpkins ripening in greenhouse, and two tiddlers on the plant still.

my largest is 35 inches, and he is enormous so i am in awe of a 64 inch fella - awesome!


when can we eat them - is it once they are cpmpletely orange?

pumpkin recipes anyone?

[meltedmarsbars]

I don't eat these - they are purely for the fun of it at Hallowe'en.

Imho butternuts taste better - but don't make nearly such good lanterns!

[anonymousbird]

When DO we eat them? Mine are currently a variety of green/yellow/partly orange and completely orange.

Should I cut and store the ripe ones, or leave in situ as although we intend to make some spicy pumpkin soup (DH's request) we also want a couple of them to last us til Halloween so wasn't sure best way forward to keep them in best possible condition until the time in question .....

[mamatilly]

two pumpkins went squishy on the plant, so i cut the others off and have put them in a little pop-up greenhouse on blankets - they are ripening really well in there - feel like part of the family!

i am thinking pumpkin soup, and pumpkin curry so far!

but when?!!!

[meltedmarsbars]

Whenever they look ripe and ready.

Best recipe is to finely dice said pumpkin, fry in butter/oil mix then chuck in chopped garlic and lots of chopped sage at last minute, stir and serve.

[Nuttybear]

I came to this topic to ask questions but feel I need to join in. 3 Good sized pumpkins. had to cut them off today as the stems seems to be going yukky. Small patches are green.
I'll measure them later and get back to you.
Now the question which I suspect mamatilly has already answered.
How can I store them to ripen?
Could I keep them in a dark shed or would that be a mistake? Do they need sunlight?

[Nuttybear]

Bump!

[meltedmarsbars]

No idea, just don't bruise them and keep them away from frost. I would think sunlight.

mine never keep very long.

[anonymousbird]

Ventured into the pumpkin patch properly yesterday and established that all 6 pumpkins were actually not attached to plants that were growing any more... so have picked the pumpkins. They have all gone a good orange colour, except one which is still completely green.

Might it still ripen, even though it has been picked??

Anyway, only one has been slightly damaged - the stalk fell off so the top is "exposed" so we will be doing something with that one this week...

Oh, and in my research to find ideas, came across this for the seeds which sounds YUM YUM. Roasted seeds

[meltedmarsbars]

We roast the seeds sometimes. They are a faff to pop and eat.