I had grand plans for a garden at the house, but as soon as I started digging it, I realized someone had put some sort of fabric a few inches beneath the surface and it was hard to dig through. But I managed to find a space along the ghastly chain link fence along my property line to plant some gourds and pumpkins.
I put six plants in and figured that it would be enough to help cover the fence and maybe get a pumpkin or two. 
I had gourds at one of my other houses, and they took over the garden. Apparently, they can grow up to a foot a day. Funny story… I had gone to Texas for a wedding in early September, and when I came back, the gourds had climbed up by back door and had covered my roof – in one week!
The tendrils reach out and find something to wrap around, and then pull themselves up. I do try and direct them to grow in the direction that I want them to go.
The plants have been blossoming for the past few weeks, and I am trying to decide whether to pull all but one flower off, and let the plant concentrate on growing one pumpkin, or just let the plants do what they want.
Stay tuned for more updates from the pumpkin patch!
Pull them off and get yourself a big un!
ReplyDeleteCan't believe you have landscaping fabric all over your yard.
Grrrr.
xo jane
Jane... I might pull all but one off of only one of the plants, and let the others be. And I can't believe I have that fabric under the whole yard, small as it is.
DeleteIt's not about how many pumpkins you have, you know. The Great Pumpkin just wants your pumpkin patch ro be REALLY SINCERE. ;-). Sorry; couldn't resist! Someday when my kids have outgrown tricks and treats, I'm going to head out to a pumpkin patch with my DH and a bottle of wine to celebrate Halloween Linus Style.
ReplyDeleteOh, my pumpkin patch will be very sincere! Very.
DeleteIf I have a bumper crop of pumpkins, I will be the great pumpkin fairy and deliver them to my friends and neighbours.
Consider gardening in raised beds. Not only will it be easier, but the results will be better, too.
ReplyDeleteI do have the tomatoes in raised beds. That may be the way to go for next summer.
DeleteI would be nervous to leave just one flower, in case a deer or some night rambler stops by. How about 2 flowers, the heir and the space. I just love to see vegetables growing in a garden.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week
Helen xx
I have six plants, so i might do the one blossom thing on one plant and let the rest go.
DeleteI can't wait to see the results. Sorry about the landscaping fabric--and to think how hard some soul worked to put it all down. Mary
ReplyDeleteIt's kind of scary to think what's under it.
DeleteRent a tilling machine. but the better idea is raised beds. then you know what exactly the kind of soil you have, as you have created the mix in the raised beds. There is no doubt a very good reason for the landscape fabric. I shudder at the possible reasons.Mr. Douglas P.A.
ReplyDeleteProbably raised beds next year. Or will build in the fall and work on the soil over the winter.
DeleteLOL I've been curious about those tendrils as I observe my first ever Clematis wrap and climb, or, is that climb and wrap! Seriously it is amazing that these plants have this ability.
ReplyDeleteGo for it Meg, let the vine creep!
It is fun to watch them grow. About clematis - first year they sleep, second year they creep and third year they leap!
DeleteJack and the Beanstalk comes to my mind! SO fun to watch these grow.
ReplyDeletebest,
teaorwine
Ohhhh... didn't think about that!
DeleteI will be waiting to see what happens next. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
ReplyDeleteHopefully, I will have a lot of pumpkins by the fall!
DeleteHow does a pumpkin set the fruit. Is the pumpkin asexual? Dr. Ruth
ReplyDeleteI am thinking that the bees do all of the work. I see them crawling in and out of the flowers.
DeleteYou're not a dork. Or maybe I am. I go out every spring to catch my clematis and train the tendrils the way I want them to go for the season. Pruning shears and florist wire.
ReplyDeleteMy mother's training hers to run along the poles for the awning on her terrace.
DeleteI also love to watch vining plants as they grow.
ReplyDeleteThose tendrals, whether from a hardy gourd plant or a delicate clematis, are fascinating.
Hope you can harvest some pumpkins this Fall!
I was outside looking at the pumpkins earlier this evening. The droop so badly in the heat but then come back once the sun has set.
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