…because Petersik Pumpkin Farmer is the new guy in town. Well, Accidental Pumpkin Farmer, I should say. I somehow grew a pumpkin without planning to. I find the whole thing amusing; Sherry is a bit less enthusiastic about our surprise fruit. Here’s what happened:
Last year we painted a few pumpkins and, once they were past their prime, I casually tossed them into one of our DIY compost bins. It turns out that nutrient-rich compost is an excellent place for pumpkin seeds to start growing. If your goal is to raise pumpkins, that’s great; if your goal is tidy compost, maybe not so much.
I didn’t realize I was on the path to pumpkin farming until the following spring. I used some of that compost in our edible garden and noticed mysterious sprouts popping up beside my plantings. Thinking they were weeds, I pulled some out, unaware they were actually young pumpkin vines trying to grow near our basil and bell peppers.
One day I spotted a larger version of that “weed” sticking out of the compost bin and finally connected the dots. Sherry was a little annoyed that the compost had been compromised, but she indulged my curiosity. We still had a second compost bin to use, so she agreed to let me follow this accidental pumpkin experiment and see what would happen.
The vine that developed was impressive. I don’t have many photos because I honestly didn’t expect anything to come of it, but you can see a hint of its wide leaves in one of our videos. Those large leaves are a dead giveaway that it was a pumpkin.
The plant was fascinating: it twined around our fence, produced big leaves, and even opened a few blossoms during the day. All of it made me eager to see what pumpkins might appear by fall.
Then the vine died. I’m not sure why. I didn’t give it any special care all summer, and when we returned from a short trip the plant had withered into a brown ghost of itself. Naturally, I felt a bit disappointed.
Fortunately, the story has a happy twist. While removing the dead vine from the fence, I discovered a small reward:
It wasn’t a prizewinner, but it was a real little pumpkin — a tiny white one, neat and round rather than oddly shaped or bumpy. I’m proud that my accidental experiment produced at least one cute fruit. I’m considering planting its seeds on purpose next season so the little line can continue, and of course Sherry will probably have some decorating fun with it first.
Have any of you intentionally grown pumpkins or have tips if I decide to try again? After this surprise success, I’m inclined to think growing pumpkins is easier than it looks.