I just planted up the contents of a seed packet into a number of pots
and expect to see lots of little plants in a few weeks.

I have a bed area prepared for them.. no problems there.

I did similar last year and they were all eaten by slugs within a day of
planting out. I didn't get a single plant beyond 4 leaves.

Is there a companion plant I should consider to distract the slugs. A
particularly slug resistant mulch?

Last year they ignored the beer traps and preferred to nip the pumpkins
in the bud.

I managed to get a whole two plants to crop, but they were in the
greenhouse.

I *love* pumpkin soup and last year I tried pumpkin carving for the
first time ever. As th results from both were successful, I really want
a good crop.

Apparently I have to go a stage further and do 'Spike', 'Buffy' and all
since 'Angel' was considered recognisable.

http://www.affordable-afpers.co.uk/a...lides/Picture_
024.html

Warwick

On the subject of pumpkin soup, there is an excellent recipt in Delia's
winter cook book.

--
Brian
---------------------------------------------
www.ashnookplants.co.uk
Top quality seeds & stuff at value prices!
"Warwick" wrote in message
news:MPG.1c83439f2cfa9310989924@dalai...
I just planted up the contents of a seed packet into a number of pots
and expect to see lots of little plants in a few weeks.

I have a bed area prepared for them.. no problems there.

I did similar last year and they were all eaten by slugs within a day of
planting out. I didn't get a single plant beyond 4 leaves.

Is there a companion plant I should consider to distract the slugs. A
particularly slug resistant mulch?

Last year they ignored the beer traps and preferred to nip the pumpkins
in the bud.

I managed to get a whole two plants to crop, but they were in the
greenhouse.

I *love* pumpkin soup and last year I tried pumpkin carving for the
first time ever. As th results from both were successful, I really want
a good crop.

Apparently I have to go a stage further and do 'Spike', 'Buffy' and all
since 'Angel' was considered recognisable.

http://www.affordable-afpers.co.uk/a...lides/Picture_
024.html

Warwick

Warwick wrote:
I just planted up the contents of a seed packet into a number of pots
and expect to see lots of little plants in a few weeks.

I have a bed area prepared for them.. no problems there.

I did similar last year and they were all eaten by slugs within a day of
planting out. I didn't get a single plant beyond 4 leaves.

Harden them off for a bit outside before planting in the final location.
And unless it is against your religion put a few slug pellet around the
base of each new plant whilst they get established. Otherwise the bruise
damage you inflict when planting them will attract slugs from miles around.

Is there a companion plant I should consider to distract the slugs. A
particularly slug resistant mulch?

Even the one I threw on the compost heap rooted and grew a crop so they
are pretty tough. I usually only plant a couple since that is all I have
room for each grabs a 6' square of ground (more if it is allowed to).

Last year they ignored the beer traps and preferred to nip the pumpkins
in the bud.

I managed to get a whole two plants to crop, but they were in the
greenhouse.

They grew OK outside last year for me. Worth also trying courgettes -
they are delicious when small and you can grow a few on at the end of
season as marrows for winter soups.

Regards,
Martin Brown

Martin Brown wrote:
Warwick wrote:
I just planted up the contents of a seed packet into a number of
pots
[...]
They grew OK outside last year for me. Worth also trying
courgettes -
they are delicious when small and you can grow a few on at the end
of
season as marrows for winter soups.

The problem with big pumpkins in Britain is that it's very difficult
to get them ready for use. A real Aussie pumpkin is dried out by
exposure -- just as you see rows of them on roofs in places like
Malta. That way they don't stay watery and tasteless. (I speak in
theory, as I dislike the things whatever you do to them. Pumpkin
scones are reasonable, I suppose.)

I'd say the variety to grow in this country is butternut: they're
nicer than the giants, and are ready to use much sooner.

Mike.

In article ,
"Mike Lyle" writes:
|
| The problem with big pumpkins in Britain is that it's very difficult
| to get them ready for use. A real Aussie pumpkin is dried out by
| exposure -- just as you see rows of them on roofs in places like
| Malta. That way they don't stay watery and tasteless. (I speak in
| theory, as I dislike the things whatever you do to them. Pumpkin
| scones are reasonable, I suppose.)

Actually, no. More of the difference is that the ordinary pumpkins
are the same species as marrows (C. pepo), and the whole species is
tasteless. Hubbards etc. are C. maxima, which are drier, starchier
and nuttier - and MUCH better, but more difficult to get seed for.

I grew some Queensland Blues last year (as Aussie as you like),
and they were very hubbard-like. So are Japanese katsuba.

| I'd say the variety to grow in this country is butternut: they're
| nicer than the giants, and are ready to use much sooner.

Eh? They are C. moschata, need quite a lot MORE heat than the
others, and so are very iffy. I also dislike them because they
are sweet, sickly and somewhat slimy (much like orange sweet
potatoes, whereas I love white ones).


Please note that I am only 90% certain of the species of each
type.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Nick Maclaren wrote:
In article ,
"Mike Lyle" writes:

The problem with big pumpkins in Britain is that it's very
difficult
to get them ready for use. A real Aussie pumpkin is dried out by
exposure -- just as you see rows of them on roofs in places like
Malta. That way they don't stay watery and tasteless. (I speak in
theory, as I dislike the things whatever you do to them. Pumpkin
scones are reasonable, I suppose.)

Actually, no. More of the difference is that the ordinary pumpkins
are the same species as marrows (C. pepo), and the whole species is
tasteless. Hubbards etc. are C. maxima, which are drier, starchier
and nuttier - and MUCH better, but more difficult to get seed for.

I grew some Queensland Blues last year (as Aussie as you like),
and they were very hubbard-like. So are Japanese katsuba.

Ah, interesting. Not being a fan, I haven't looked into it as closely
as I might have. I'll relay the info to my mother, who's fretting
about it at the moment (happens every year: exiles have their
rituals).

"Queensland blues" reminds me too much of the damned Hanson crowd for
comfort, being more of a hybrid NSW red myself.

I'd say the variety to grow in this country is butternut: they're
nicer than the giants, and are ready to use much sooner.

Eh? They are C. moschata, need quite a lot MORE heat than the
others, and so are very iffy. I also dislike them because they
are sweet, sickly and somewhat slimy (much like orange sweet
potatoes, whereas I love white ones).

Ah, interesting again: I prefer the orange batata. I must have been
lucky the only year I grew butternut in this country.


Please note that I am only 90% certain of the species of each
type.

Mike.

In article ,
"Mike Lyle" writes:
|
| "Queensland blues" reminds me too much of the damned Hanson crowd for
| comfort, being more of a hybrid NSW red myself.

I agree that replacing her with a pumpkin would be an improvement.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Mike Lyle wrote:
Martin Brown wrote:
Warwick wrote:
I just planted up the contents of a seed packet into a number of
pots
[...]
They grew OK outside last year for me. Worth also trying
courgettes -
they are delicious when small and you can grow a few on at the end
of
season as marrows for winter soups.

The problem with big pumpkins in Britain is that it's very
difficult
to get them ready for use. A real Aussie pumpkin is dried out by
exposure -- just as you see rows of them on roofs in places like
Malta. That way they don't stay watery and tasteless. (I speak in
theory, as I dislike the things whatever you do to them. Pumpkin
scones are reasonable, I suppose.)

I'd say the variety to grow in this country is butternut: they're
nicer than the giants, and are ready to use much sooner.

I didn't make myself clear. I didn't mean they should be totally
dessicated, in case anybody thinks that's what I meant, but they
mature and go on ripening. I suppose they lose about 30% of their
water -- something like that.

Mike.

Warwick,
Can't you leave them in pots a little longer? Any plant with so few
leaves sounds like fair game to slugs. I planted out what I thought
was a maturing chilli peper plant last year (many leaves) - and the
slugs were not slow to help themselves.

In article .com,
says...
Warwick,
Can't you leave them in pots a little longer? Any plant with so few
leaves sounds like fair game to slugs. I planted out what I thought
was a maturing chilli peper plant last year (many leaves) - and the
slugs were not slow to help themselves.

I'll be making sure that they're a bit further on before they get put in
the ground and am happy to pot them on for a while indoors and then in
the cold greenhouse before they get planted. It was just do demoralising
last year to lose so many plants to slugs so quickly. At least with
Hostas you have a couple of days to get pellets down, but the pumpkins
all went in one night.

I suppose I could use pumpkins as protective planting. Plant out a bunch
of expensive Hostas and surround them with pumkin plants to give the
hostas a chance

Warwick

Warwick wrote in
news:MPG.1c8491dabfc14d56989928@dalai:

In article .com,
says...
Warwick,
Can't you leave them in pots a little longer? Any plant with so few
leaves sounds like fair game to slugs. I planted out what I thought
was a maturing chilli peper plant last year (many leaves) - and the
slugs were not slow to help themselves.

I'll be making sure that they're a bit further on before they get put in
the ground and am happy to pot them on for a while indoors and then in
the cold greenhouse before they get planted. It was just do demoralising
last year to lose so many plants to slugs so quickly. At least with
Hostas you have a couple of days to get pellets down, but the pumpkins
all went in one night.


If the plants were that big in Feb already last year, I suspect they got et
because you put them out too early.

Even if they don't get frost damage, they don't grow fast enough if you
plant them early to harden the stems and outgrow the slugs. I made that
mistake last year: luckily they grow so damn fast I was able to plant
another lot and pot them out in June, and still got good pumpkins.

If you wait a bit and plant them later, they will stand a much better
chance of fighting off the enemy.

Victoria
--
gardening on a north-facing hill
in South-East Cornwall
--