Years ago my father used to grow pumpkins in his front yard. They'd
grow thick and lush and he'd have enough to eat, put away, and give to
the neighborhood kids for halloween.

I thought I'd try the same thing in my front yard this year but didn't
think I'd have any luck. His yard was rich alluvial soil. Mine is
pretty much beach sand. But lo and behold I've got four great looking
plants spreading over the whole yard with a dozen or more rather large
fruit (?) on them and more on the way; they're still blossoming!

So, two questions:

1. When are they ripe enough to pick and eat? (I know, when they turn
pumpkin color, dummy! But that might not be true. After they turn
completely orange, are they completely ripe, or should I look for some
other sign?)

2. How long can they remain on the vine before they are past their
prime? Do they get woody, lose their flavor, or does other bad things
happen to them if you don't pick them at the peak time?

Many thanks, as usual.

-Frank

--
Here's some of my work:
http://www.franksknives.com

On Sun, 20 Jul 2008 13:08:30 -0700, Frank J Warner
wrote:

Years ago my father used to grow pumpkins in his front yard. They'd
grow thick and lush and he'd have enough to eat, put away, and give to
the neighborhood kids for halloween.

I thought I'd try the same thing in my front yard this year but didn't
think I'd have any luck. His yard was rich alluvial soil. Mine is
pretty much beach sand. But lo and behold I've got four great looking
plants spreading over the whole yard with a dozen or more rather large
fruit (?) on them and more on the way; they're still blossoming!

So, two questions:

1. When are they ripe enough to pick and eat? (I know, when they turn
pumpkin color, dummy! But that might not be true. After they turn
completely orange, are they completely ripe, or should I look for some
other sign?)

2. How long can they remain on the vine before they are past their
prime? Do they get woody, lose their flavor, or does other bad things
happen to them if you don't pick them at the peak time?

Many thanks, as usual.

-Frank

You did not say where you are. In the northern U.S., say north of the
Ohio River, my experience is that they will stay on the vines until
frost without harm and become progressively sweeter. In the far
south, say the Gulf coast, they are a lot harder to keep after
maturity because it is warm for several additional months. You should
probably inquire of local gardeners and your county extension service
(assumng that you are in the U.S.).

In article , B. Server
wrote:

On Sun, 20 Jul 2008 13:08:30 -0700, Frank J Warner
wrote:

Years ago my father used to grow pumpkins in his front yard. They'd
grow thick and lush and he'd have enough to eat, put away, and give to
the neighborhood kids for halloween.

I thought I'd try the same thing in my front yard this year but didn't
think I'd have any luck. His yard was rich alluvial soil. Mine is
pretty much beach sand. But lo and behold I've got four great looking
plants spreading over the whole yard with a dozen or more rather large
fruit (?) on them and more on the way; they're still blossoming!

So, two questions:

1. When are they ripe enough to pick and eat? (I know, when they turn
pumpkin color, dummy! But that might not be true. After they turn
completely orange, are they completely ripe, or should I look for some
other sign?)

2. How long can they remain on the vine before they are past their
prime? Do they get woody, lose their flavor, or does other bad things
happen to them if you don't pick them at the peak time?

Many thanks, as usual.

-Frank

You did not say where you are. In the northern U.S., say north of the
Ohio River, my experience is that they will stay on the vines until
frost without harm and become progressively sweeter. In the far
south, say the Gulf coast, they are a lot harder to keep after
maturity because it is warm for several additional months. You should
probably inquire of local gardeners and your county extension service
(assumng that you are in the U.S.).

Sorry for the omission. I should know better but I don't visit R.C.E.
often enough to remember this. I'm in California, Central Coast, near
Santa Barbara. Sunset garden zone 16. USDA zone 8a or 8b. No frost
until February or March.

Your answer about leaving them on the vines is useful. Anything else I
should know?

-Frank

--
Here's some of my work:
http://www.franksknives.com

In article ,
Frank J Warner wrote:

Years ago my father used to grow pumpkins in his front yard. They'd
grow thick and lush and he'd have enough to eat, put away, and give to
the neighborhood kids for halloween.

I thought I'd try the same thing in my front yard this year but didn't
think I'd have any luck. His yard was rich alluvial soil. Mine is
pretty much beach sand. But lo and behold I've got four great looking
plants spreading over the whole yard with a dozen or more rather large
fruit (?) on them and more on the way; they're still blossoming!

So, two questions:

1. When are they ripe enough to pick and eat? (I know, when they turn
pumpkin color, dummy! But that might not be true. After they turn
completely orange, are they completely ripe, or should I look for some
other sign?)

Wrong. They are delicious as a green squash when they are small and
green!


2. How long can they remain on the vine before they are past their
prime? Do they get woody, lose their flavor, or does other bad things
happen to them if you don't pick them at the peak time?

Many thanks, as usual.

-Frank
--
Peace! Om

"Human nature seems to be to control other people
until they put their foot down." -- Stephan Rothstein

Omelet wrote:

Wrong. They are delicious as a green squash when they are small and
green!



I'm growing green striped cushaws this year instead of summer squash.

They are just about to start blooming. I planted them *hoping* they
were good when picked small and tender, because we don't need all that
many pumpkins. I just wanted to plant something different.

They've just started to run. They look determined to take over the
whole garden plus my neighbor's back yard if they get thru the fence.

Bob

In article , Omelet
wrote:

In article ,
Frank J Warner wrote:

Years ago my father used to grow pumpkins in his front yard. They'd
grow thick and lush and he'd have enough to eat, put away, and give to
the neighborhood kids for halloween.

I thought I'd try the same thing in my front yard this year but didn't
think I'd have any luck. His yard was rich alluvial soil. Mine is
pretty much beach sand. But lo and behold I've got four great looking
plants spreading over the whole yard with a dozen or more rather large
fruit (?) on them and more on the way; they're still blossoming!

So, two questions:

1. When are they ripe enough to pick and eat? (I know, when they turn
pumpkin color, dummy! But that might not be true. After they turn
completely orange, are they completely ripe, or should I look for some
other sign?)

Wrong. They are delicious as a green squash when they are small and
green!

Yes. I did a search on pumpkins in this ng before posting my questions
and have heard you say that, but I'm interested in yer regular
run-of-the-mill orange jack-o-lantern pumpkin pie pumpkins.



2. How long can they remain on the vine before they are past their
prime? Do they get woody, lose their flavor, or does other bad things
happen to them if you don't pick them at the peak time?

Many thanks, as usual.

-Frank

--
Here's some of my work:
http://www.franksknives.com

Frank J Warner wrote:

Yes. I did a search on pumpkins in this ng before posting my questions
and have heard you say that, but I'm interested in yer regular
run-of-the-mill orange jack-o-lantern pumpkin pie pumpkins.

2. How long can they remain on the vine before they are past their
prime? Do they get woody, lose their flavor, or does other bad things
happen to them if you don't pick them at the peak time?

Many thanks, as usual.

-Frank



I think they are ready to pick when you cannot pierce the skin with your
thumbnail (then give them another week for good measure). Also the stem
should be woody. Maybe someone who has grown them before can give you
more details, but hopefully this will help.

Bob

In article ,
zxcvbob wrote:

Omelet wrote:

Wrong. They are delicious as a green squash when they are small and
green!



I'm growing green striped cushaws this year instead of summer squash.

They are just about to start blooming. I planted them *hoping* they
were good when picked small and tender, because we don't need all that
many pumpkins. I just wanted to plant something different.

They've just started to run. They look determined to take over the
whole garden plus my neighbor's back yard if they get thru the fence.

Bob

Pumpkin vines get huge. g Mom introduced me to baby pumpkin years
ago. They are delicious.
--
Peace! Om

"Human nature seems to be to control other people
until they put their foot down." -- Stephan Rothstein

In article ,
Frank J Warner wrote:

In article , Omelet
wrote:

In article ,
Frank J Warner wrote:

Years ago my father used to grow pumpkins in his front yard. They'd
grow thick and lush and he'd have enough to eat, put away, and give to
the neighborhood kids for halloween.

I thought I'd try the same thing in my front yard this year but didn't
think I'd have any luck. His yard was rich alluvial soil. Mine is
pretty much beach sand. But lo and behold I've got four great looking
plants spreading over the whole yard with a dozen or more rather large
fruit (?) on them and more on the way; they're still blossoming!

So, two questions:

1. When are they ripe enough to pick and eat? (I know, when they turn
pumpkin color, dummy! But that might not be true. After they turn
completely orange, are they completely ripe, or should I look for some
other sign?)

Wrong. They are delicious as a green squash when they are small and
green!

Yes. I did a search on pumpkins in this ng before posting my questions
and have heard you say that, but I'm interested in yer regular
run-of-the-mill orange jack-o-lantern pumpkin pie pumpkins.

The pumpkins we grew were discarded halloween pumpkins from the grocery
store. The vines grew out of the compost heap. ;-)

I've never bought pumpkin seeds.
--
Peace! Om

"Human nature seems to be to control other people
until they put their foot down." -- Stephan Rothstein

In article ,
zxcvbob wrote:

Frank J Warner wrote:

Yes. I did a search on pumpkins in this ng before posting my questions
and have heard you say that, but I'm interested in yer regular
run-of-the-mill orange jack-o-lantern pumpkin pie pumpkins.

2. How long can they remain on the vine before they are past their
prime? Do they get woody, lose their flavor, or does other bad things
happen to them if you don't pick them at the peak time?

Many thanks, as usual.

-Frank



I think they are ready to pick when you cannot pierce the skin with your
thumbnail (then give them another week for good measure). Also the stem
should be woody. Maybe someone who has grown them before can give you
more details, but hopefully this will help.

Bob

Treat them like zucchini. ;-d

Even those are inedible if they get too big.
--
Peace! Om

"Human nature seems to be to control other people
until they put their foot down." -- Stephan Rothstein

Often when zucchini gets to the size of baseball bats, we still eat
them. we would make zucchini bread out of them.

Simon

On Jul 21, 12:13 am, Omelet wrote:
In article ,



zxcvbob wrote:
Frank J Warner wrote:

Yes. I did a search on pumpkins in this ng before posting my questions
and have heard you say that, but I'm interested in yer regular
run-of-the-mill orange jack-o-lantern pumpkin pie pumpkins.

2. How long can they remain on the vine before they are past their
prime? Do they get woody, lose their flavor, or does other bad things
happen to them if you don't pick them at the peak time?

Many thanks, as usual.

-Frank

I think they are ready to pick when you cannot pierce the skin with your
thumbnail (then give them another week for good measure). Also the stem
should be woody. Maybe someone who has grown them before can give you
more details, but hopefully this will help.

Bob

Treat them like zucchini. ;-d

Even those are inedible if they get too big.
--
Peace! Om

"Human nature seems to be to control other people
until they put their foot down." -- Stephan Rothstein

In article
,
Simon wrote:

Often when zucchini gets to the size of baseball bats, we still eat
them. we would make zucchini bread out of them.

Simon

I've read about practical jokes being pulled using over-grown zuke's.
;-) They get to be like nasty water bombs. People like to drop them off
of bridges on to unsuspecting picnickers. g
--
Peace! Om

"Human nature seems to be to control other people
until they put their foot down." -- Stephan Rothstein

zxcvbob said:


Frank J Warner wrote:

Yes. I did a search on pumpkins in this ng before posting my questions
and have heard you say that, but I'm interested in yer regular
run-of-the-mill orange jack-o-lantern pumpkin pie pumpkins.

2. How long can they remain on the vine before they are past their
prime? Do they get woody, lose their flavor, or does other bad things
happen to them if you don't pick them at the peak time?

Many thanks, as usual.


I think they are ready to pick when you cannot pierce the skin with your
thumbnail (then give them another week for good measure). Also the stem
should be woody. Maybe someone who has grown them before can give you
more details, but hopefully this will help.

Bob's got it right. And the stem on typical pie/jack o'lantern pumpkins will
be as hard as wood.

The longer you leave them on the vine, the sweeter they should be.

I do believe that even in warmer weather areas, the vines will begin to
decline as the pumpkins mature. (They normally do that in my garden
some time before frost finally kills them.)

--
Pat in Plymouth MI ('someplace.net' is comcast)

After enlightenment, the laundry.