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Post by Gianna on Aug 23, 2018 16:46:42 GMT -5
I grew some of these a few years ago, variety Kakai, and enjoyed them. But kakai is not a very productive variety so this year I had planned on growing several others. I did get one other variety planted (Naked bear, I think, from Johnny's) and had planned more, but life...
Anyway, the Naked Bear is growing well in the back, and has set a good number of small, compact looking fruits. Maybe 8-10 inches across. And some of them are turning or are already orange. The vines are still looking good, though some of the older leaves are turning yellowish. No mildew yet.
I'd love to pick one, but I think it's too soon. Or I could pick one and let it sit a few months. It's a race against time since the patch is near the back, dry hill where hungry critters reside. They have already gutted at least two of them. I don't especially want to start trapping, but if they get more, I will. I think I'm up against ground squirrels or perhaps rats. Both of which are plentiful here.
I also had a few old kakai seeds and planted 6 seedlings in front in large plastic pots. Each of those 6 pots has one set pumpkin. That's probably all I'll get from those which might combine to total 1 to 2 cups of seeds. But nothing is eating them yet.
I am tempted to start more seed to see what, if anything I get when planted in large black plastic pots. Still frost-free Sept, Oct, Nov here to set fruits. Could work. It's only a seed packet ...and work.
Anyone else ever grow pepitas?
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Post by hairymooseknuckles on Aug 23, 2018 16:58:27 GMT -5
Heh heh heh hehheh she said nekkid.
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Post by brownrexx on Aug 23, 2018 19:24:50 GMT -5
I don't grow any pumpkins because the Squash Vine Borers always kill them before they produce anything decent.
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Post by Gianna on Aug 23, 2018 22:26:43 GMT -5
I don't grow regular pumpkins, but I love the seeds of these. Glad we don't have those vine borers out here. Not sure how close they are.
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Post by brownrexx on Aug 24, 2018 7:44:21 GMT -5
They are very difficult to deal with Gianna, because they don't just eat the leaves, they kill the whole plant! And the really sad part is that they come from a really pretty moth. Who would have thought that something so destructive could be pretty?
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Post by Gianna on Aug 26, 2018 10:13:36 GMT -5
And the really sad part is that they come from a really pretty moth. Who would have thought that something so destructive could be pretty? I think the hawk moths that produce tomato horn worms are striking, if not beautiful. Fortunately there are so many birds looking for worms that the larvae rarely make it to maturity. But even if a few do, they won't out-right kill the plant. I watched a video yesterday about someone harvesting a hulless seeded pumpkin. He had picked it way too soon IMO, but the seeds were still close to maturity. So I decided since some of my pumpkins were already totally orange, to sacrifice one of the new variety out of totally curiosity. As soon as it was light, I went and picked the smallest orange one easy to reach. And cut into it... I was pleasantly surprised that they were ready enough (though I think more time and perhaps a curing period might help with flavor). There definitely are more, a lot more seeds in this variety (N**** Bear)(don't want to titillate the Moose ) It is a hybrid unfortunately, because I like to save the seed. But then also growing zucks and other squash, I'm not sure I'd want to run the risk of saving my own seed and ruin an entire harvest the next year. Anyway, later today I'll weigh/measure what I got from one small pumpkin, maybe 5 inches in diameter. Definitely more production from one small one than 2 larger kakai. And there are more fruits on each vine. Maybe 2-3 on NB compared to 1 or 2 on kakai.
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Post by Gianna on Aug 28, 2018 13:14:53 GMT -5
I decided to pick more of these pumpkins. I think they are ripe enough, and these I will let cure at least 2 weeks (hopefully longer) before cutting into them. I'm hoping this will allow the vines to set even more fruits. They are still blooming, though something is eating flowers. But I do see a few new fruits set - there is hope.
I picked 12 and they are now near a window with air circulation, but not in direct sun. I picked anything that was totally orange, or that looked compromised in any way. Or was near where something was eating them. The smallest weighed just about 1.5 pounds, and the largest were close to 3.5 pounds.
These are small, pretty pumpkins.
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Post by ladymarmalade on Aug 28, 2018 13:20:51 GMT -5
Is the pumpkin flesh something you want to eat with these varieties? Or is it all about the pepitas?
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Post by Gianna on Aug 28, 2018 16:04:16 GMT -5
Is the pumpkin flesh something you want to eat with these varieties? Or is it all about the pepitas? My impression is its more about the seeds. With Naked Bear, several seed companies say you can make a pie with it, but that recommendation seemed luke-warm and more of a sales pitch. Kakai, a very common hull-less variety, is said to have bland taste and is often fed to animals. When I process these in the weeks to come, if I think the flesh can be redeemed, I'll post an update.
If I made pumpkin pies from scratch (the only time I tried was decades ago, and a dismal failure - I did not know there were such things as 'pie pumpkins', lol), I'd grow the best-tasting pie pumpkins I could find.
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Aug 29, 2018 9:31:30 GMT -5
I remember once when I was a kid, helping Mom do the work of peeling, cutting, cooking, and pureeing so she could make pie from a jack-o-lantern pumpkin. The extra pumpkin was diligently put in the freezer for future use. (Mom grew up poor and hated to waste food.)
After that pie, no more pumpkin dishes appeared for a long time, though at some point rest of the pumpkin in the freezer quietly disappeared. And as next Thanksgiving approached, cans of Libby's appeared in the pantry.
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