I officially nominate the pumpkin for vegetable of the month! Do I hear a second?
I realize that the selection of a pumpkin may be predictable but it’s such a seasonally appropriate vegetable for October. After all could you have even think of fall harvests and Halloween without pumpkins? Whether they are turned into pies or Jack-o-lanterns these orange globes of October have become representatives of the fall season. Of course they aren’t just in orange, some are even white!
They also come in a variety of sizes from small decorative ones to giant world record hopefuls! We’ve grown some more modest one’s here in our garden but we’re proud of all of our veggies. Perhaps next year we’ll try for the big one.
One neat thing to do with pumpkins is to carve them. But I’m sure you already knew that! We haven’t picked up our carving pumpkin yet but take a look at this one we saw on our visit to the Nashville Zoo.
For now these three orbs of orangeness that were grown in our own garden will grace our front steps as decoration for the fall. Very soon we’ll go out looking for our Great Pumpkin!
After all what would Halloween be without it?
(Image from Wikipedia. Illustrated of course by the great Charles M. Shulz!)
Great choice Dave! From Jack’O Lanterns to yummy Pumpkin Pies!
October just wouldn’t be the same without the pumpkin! From decorating to eating, it’s a very versatile veggie.
I love that carved pumpkin!
Your crop from this year looks great too!
They are a pretty amazing vegetable aren’t they! Are these carving or eating pumpkins?
Gail
Pumpkins!!!The essence of Fall. NO other time in the yr. are any veggies more dominant than the pumpkin. So much can be derived from this one veggie.
Cindy,
I thought that carved pumpkin was incredible. It’s definitely not your standard hollowed out pumpkin-turned-jack-o-lantern!
Gail,
I’m not sure. I think they are just decorative pumpkins!
Lola,
What would October be without a pumpkin? 😉
I live in deer infested Western New Jersey and want to grow pumpkins and gourds next year. I haad a few vines that did well in a fenced garden but they needed more room to roam.
How do I protect them? We have many farmers that grow them by the thousands, any ideas how to grow them in an open field or do the deer not like them because of the prickly leaves and stems?
Hi Anonymous,
Deer are an animal I know well! I didn’t have any trouble with them getting near the pumpkins but I suspect that is more because they didn’t find the pumpkins rather than they didn’t want to eat them. As far as I know deer will eat nearly anything, although some things are more resistant. I would fence in your pumpkins. You can get a cheap coated wire fence that comes in a roll from your local box store to expand your protected area where you are growing the pumpkins. For some extra height stake a few 6-8 foot poles around the area and line fishing line between them. I’ve never tried that but I’ve read where deer don’t like fishing line since they can’t see it. The other thing you could do is cover them with a light mesh. The only problem with covering them is that you will need to remove the covering so the bees can pollinate the flowers. I hope this helps you out!