I believe I ordered my first Seminole Pumpkin seeds from Southern Exposure about 6 years ago. Since then, I have used my own seed and never stopped loving this plant. Here's why:
- It is easy to start in the SUMMER rainy season when nothing else grows: plant and ignore
- It gets "sick" with downy and powdery mildew BUT IT JUST KEEPS GROWING
- It gets "attacked" by squash bugs, thrips, and melon/pickle caterpillars BUT IT JUST KEEPS GROWING
- Their vines grow EVERYWHERE: Just pick up the vines and plop them back down on itself before it sets roots in your lawn... [not a bad thing either ;)]
- It requires bees or hand pollination to fruit: I make my life easier by planting a FEW bee plants nearby [see ONE suggestion below]
So... my timing was not perfect to plant my Seminole Pumpkin seeds this year. I thought my unfertilized vines were a result of bad planting time. They grew fantastic all summer, but had no fruit. I talked with many other members with the same dilemma: plant looked fantastic but NO FRUIT.
When the bee plants in Karen's Garden of Giverny began blooming. (Those new to my newsletter, this is my adjacent garden that was originally 30 raised vegetable beds and now has become a bee attraction garden.) No longer do I have a problem finding bees. I am pretty positive I have at least 15 pumpkins, if I bragged it would be 30 or more, in a 60 foot row WITH NO WORK. John and I keep finding more pumpkins weekly and placing them above ground level to prevent the soil critters from attacking. This harvest is enough for my hubby and I to have roasted pumpkin soup twice a month for a year. I am pleased.
BTW (by the way) these pumpkins can be stored up to a YEAR! At our home they have lasted on the counter for 8-10 months. We also keep our house at 82ยบ year round which is a hindrance to their storage. I am sure if you keep your house colder that you will be able to keep them for longer.
On the Cucurbitaceae subject, I have been asked about the male and female flowers of squash, cucumber, and melons. Many people pick and fry the flowers but then complain that they get no fruit.
MALE flowers have a long peduncle "stem" to the flower. FEMALE flowers have a stem but also have a bulb below the flower called the OVARY. The OVARY is your pumpkin/squash/cucumber. DON'T remove the female flowers. Cut off only of the males to fry, however leave enough so they can pollinate the females. I am smirking here.
ABOVE: MALE FLOWER. Look at BASE of flower.
ABOVE: FEMALE FLOWER. Look at the BASE of the flower.
Yes, I have 30 FRESH Seminole Pumpkin seeds for $5 with free shipping on eBay.
