Growing Pumpkins

GROW YOUR own pumpkins

Growing pumpkins is fun.Pumpkins are a warm-season vegetable that can be grown throughout the world. They require a fairly long period (3 - 4 months) of hot weather and can not tolerate any frost. Pumpkins grow quickly, and they are a rewarding addition to any garden. Very few insects or animals attack pumpkins, so it doesn't take much effort to keep them healthy. Pumpkins can produce several fruit per plant, just like gourds, cucumber, and winter squashes. Pumpkins prefer warm temperatures above 70 degrees during the day and no lower than 60 degrees at night. The fruit generally appear within 90 to 120 days.

Sowing and Planting

• There are many, many different types of pumpkins, from inedible, hard gourds,sweet pie pumpkins so select the variety of seeds as per as your taste.Germinate seeds in late winter or early spring in sheltered areas or after the frosts has finished in cold areas.You can expect to see seedlings appear in 7 to 10 days. Seedlings and young plants are frost tender. 
• Choose a sunny position and dig over the site well for the number of pumpkin mounds you want to plant. Pumpkins love rich soil so add plenty of compost and well rotted manure or sheep pellets. 
• You can grow pumpkins in containers if space is an issue, choose a smaller growing variety and a large container and place pot in a sunny position.
• Pumpkins need lots of indirect water, but the soil of the mound should be kept moist, not wet. As it gets warmer you may need to water more than once a day. If the leaves look wilted, give them more water.Pumpkin plants have two kinds of flowers - male and female.The male flowers, which usually appear first, sit on the long thin stems and are generally more plentiful than the females. The female flowers sit much closer to the vine for stability ready to produce it's young.After the plants have developed flowers tiny pumpkins will appear.

Harvesting and storage

• The general rule of thumb is to harvest pumpkins after the first frost. 
•  Once the pumpkins have coloured up and sound hollow when you knock the shell with your knuckles and skin of the pumpkin is hard and doesn't leave a dent when ‘knocked’ it is ripe. 
• Cut the pumpkins from the vine leaving the stem on the Pumpkin. This is important because if you cut it off you leave a wound which may cause the pumpkin to rot rather than store well. Place in a dry, dark place away from rain and weather.
• Pumpkins can be stored for several weeks, or cut into strips and dried for use over several months. Simply leave the pumpkin on the ground for 4-8 days after harvesting it, and cover it with mulch or dried leaves to protect from sun damage. 

Health Benefits Of Pumpkins

• It is one of the very low calorie vegetables. 100 g fruit provides just 26 calories and contains no saturated fats or cholesterol; however, it is rich in dietary fiber, anti-oxidants, minerals, vitamins. 
• The vegetable is one of the food items recommended by dieticians in cholesterol controlling and weight reduction programs.
• The distinctive bright orange color of pumpkin clearly indicates that it's an excellent source of that all-important antioxidant beta-carotene. 
• While pumpkin flesh is nutrient-rich, pumpkin seeds also contain essential vitamins and minerals. Pumpkin seeds are a good source of vitamin E, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and are an excellent plant-based source of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids.

Pumpkin Spice Smoothie Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup milk or soy milk
• ½ cup canned pumpkin
• 1 tsp maple syrup or organic sugar
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• ½ banana, peeled
• ¼ tsp cinnamon, ground
• 1/8 tsp ginger, dry, ground
• Dash of ground nutmeg and ground clove

Directions

• In a blender, add all ingredients.
• Blend for 45-60 seconds.
• Pour and serve with cinnamon on top.