Picking Lots of Pumpkins at My Farm
One of our favorite fall activities here at my Bedford, New York farm is picking pumpkins.
This year, we have so many gorgeous pumpkins in so many shapes, sizes and colors. I have a large pumpkin patch that's planted in June every year. My gardeners and I plant lots and lots of pumpkin seeds - many from our favorite seed companies, and some from interesting and tasty fruits I’ve enjoyed in years past. My pumpkin patch is located in one corner of my lower hayfield at the far end of my allee of London planes and smoke bushes. I hope you caught a glimpse of it on the Season 2 premiere of "Martha Knows Best." My show airs Wednesdays at 8pm ET/PT on HGTV.
We finished picking all the pumpkins last week. Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- Pumpkins grow on vines, which means they take up a lot of space. I always plant my pumpkin patch in a roomy bed that can accommodate a large crop of big colorful fruits. This year, we planted our pumpkins in a corner that had long been used for storing smaller piles of composted manure and leaf mold for the gardens.
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- The patch is across from my long grove of weeping willows. The patch is also next to the carriage road, where it can be accessed easily for watering.
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- Here, it is easy to see that the foliage on the vines has begun to wither and turn brown – a sign the pumpkins are ready to harvest.
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- Ryan cuts each one off its vine using a sharp pair of garden clippers, trying to keep as much of the stem intact as possible. Leaving at least a couple of inches of stem will increase its keeping time.
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- The name pumpkin comes from the Greek word ‘pepon’ which means large melon. The pumpkin is a cucurbit, a member of the Curcurbitaceae family, which also includes squash, cucumbers, watermelon and cantaloupes. There are so many different varieties.
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- With most of the foliage gone, the pumpkins are quite visible, which makes harvesting a little easier.
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- When picking, it is also important not to injure the rind as decay and fungi will attack through the wounds.
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- Here is a traditional orange pumpkin – great for Halloween carving.
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- Always choose winter squash that is rich and deep in color. The skin should be dull and matte. Shiny skin on squash may indicate it still needs time to mature.
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- Elvira, Ryan, and Enma are so pleased with how productive our pumpkin patch was this year.
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- This pumpkin is smooth with flat ridges, dark green skin, and bright orange flesh.
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- Pumpkin seeds should be planted between the last week of May and the middle of June. They take between 90 and 120 days to grow. Their seeds can be saved to grow new pumpkins the next year.
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- Some of the pumpkins are carefully handed over the fence and then loaded onto the back of the ATV.
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- I am always trying to grow different and unusual specimens along with the more traditional varieties. We grow some pumpkins and squash from heirloom seeds. Heirlooms are old-time varieties, open-pollinated instead of hybrid, and saved and handed down through multiple generations of families.
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- In just a short amount of time, this Polaris was filled with a variety of pumpkins, and ornamental gourds. Pumpkins are a good source of nutrition. They are low in calories, fat and sodium and high in fiber. Plus, they are loaded with vitamins A and B and potassium.
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- In the end, Elvira, Enma, Ryan, and Brian filled three ATV vehicles!
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- Once all the pumpkins were picked and loaded, they were transported and displayed outside my Winter House. Elvira wipes each one down with a damp cloth to remove any dirt and debris left from the garden.
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- This is our largest pumpkin this season – it’s nearly two feet tall!
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- Modern pumpkins grow commercially in the United States, China, Mexico, and India. Farmers in the United States grow more than a billion pounds annually, with Illinois growing the most. After displaying the pumpkins in the fall, scoop out the large, dark-green, hull-less seeds, which are delicious roasted. The seeds also yield savory oil.
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- The team carefully arranges all the fruits, making sure all are clean and intact. No ‘decorating’ is required. Just lining them up makes a wonderful display. Happy Fall!
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