GC Pumpkin Growing Challenge 2013

wow Steve that's a brilliant harvest. I've started taking my pumpkins off the vines and taking away the plants as the kins turn orange. I haven't had any vines die off yet but there getting close and looking quite unwell. All leaves on all plants have some degree of powdery mildew and look more yellow than green. My butternut vines however are a lovely healthy shade of green with one or 2 of the older leaves looking slightly yellow. I've now pulled up most of my squash vines though as I have no fruits that will grow big enough before the first frosts set in, and I really need to get the grass under them mown.

BTW you don't look at all like your display picture if that's you in the one you just uploaded Steve.

 

Here is my patch looking rather scruffy.




What I've pulled out ill mow up and put back into the patch once I've turned everything over.


And here are my massive butternuts, I think I've done well with these. Butternut squash soup anyone?

 

@Steve R .....brilliant crop Steve those Butternuts are huge....

@Allan Hodgson ...at least you got 2....i only got onejust under a pound in weight....actually i did get another one but we won't talk about that

 

lol you talking bout the butternuts loli? I used a 20p piece to show size and there not much bigger lol.

 

Yes Allan but you still got 2 best make it a 'cuppa soup' eh

 

Wow that's a nice collection sir.. I have 2 questions if I may... 1.. How do I know mine are ready to pick.. I was told it's when the stems split.. Does that mean split in two or just look a little shredded... 2.i was waiting for mine to go a nice orange but they seem to be staying a pale orange colour despite them getting plenty of light ..do they still have time to change ? Don't want to pick too early but then again don't want to leave them too late and loose them eeeek !! Can you tell this is my first time hehehe attached a pick of one of my bad boys

 

1) They're ripe when the skin hardens, and from the image posted your pumpkin appears as if it could be ready to pick, but they're best left outside until just before the first frosts.

2) Your pumpkin looks like one of the varieties that produce creamy coloured fruits.

 

This is what we need to beat - the 255 Kg winner at Malvern Show this weekend

 

Got that!

Okay everyone..challenge set for next year..a 500lb+ pumpkin from one of us!!

(Secretly, I have wanted a 500lb+ 'kin from the very start a few years back!)

Steve...

 

Quite happy with my harvest for this year.

A grand total of 14 'Autumn Crown' squash, 7 Jack o' Lantern pumpkins and 5 Butternut squash.

First time I've tried Autumn Crown, quite pleased with the results, although they haven't had the taste test yet. The catalogue described them as having a good flavour, can anyone else confirm this?

As an added bonus this year, the two largest pumpkins in the photo actually came from a self seeded plant which grew at the end of the runner bean trench.

 

Brilliant Trunky!

 

Nice one Trunky...brilliant haul