Pumpkins
In the England of my childhood, Halloween was a non-event. October 31st meant nothing to us, all our thoughts were centred on a week later: November 5th, Bonfire Night. Scrap wood would be collected, an effigy made which would be taken around the streets with the cry of “penny for the Guy?”.
Toffee apples would be made, potatoes baked and children
would gaze in wonder as Catherine Wheels spun on fences and rockets reached for
the sky. Timber spat and crackled as flames licked its surfaces.
But things have changed, the American influence on our
culture and the marketing men realising plastic skeletons and plastic pumpkins
could be a money spinner, means Halloween is now everywhere.
One of the biggest changes has been the acres of pumpkins
that fill the fields in autumn.
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| (Crown Prince squash) |
Pumpkins grow reasonably well in this country, provided they have two things: warmth and water.
We sow the seeds in March, and they germinate on the heated propagator. They are only planted out when all risks of frost are gone, which in
this part of the country is no earlier than the first week in June.
Before planting I dig a pit and fill with garden compost
(they are hungry plants). Then they are planted out about two feet apart, because when they grow, they grow.
If you have plenty of ground, you can let them sprawl, or
you can fashion a temporary but sturdy frame on which they can climb. This year
ours started to climb a trellis, but a side shoot ended up making its way into
the runner bean frame!!
As the days grow shorter, the large leaves on the pumpkin
plants start to brown, its time to cut the fruits from the stems. We keep ours
undercover for the plants to finish maturing. This ensures the fruits will last
longer.
There are may varieties to choose from, we find many
varieties, too sweet, finding ‘Crown Prince’ most suited to our tastes.
There is a pumpkin for every taste, large and small, from ‘Baby
Bear’ to ‘Atlantic Giant’. But if you want a classic Halloween pumpkin, try ‘Rouge
vif d’etampes’; it’s said to be the model of Cinderella’s carriage.
Happy carving!
Copyright © Mark Beards 2024 mbeardsgardening.blogspot.com
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