Tuesday, 8 December 2009

Pumpkin Patch

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The pumpkin and bean patch has been lapping up all the grey water we have been pumping on to it from the washing machine, and it's twice weekly watering from the irrigation system.  I have Scarlet Runner beans, Lazy Housewife runner beans, climbing cucumber, Queensland Blue, Butternut, Australian Butter, Pennsylvania Crook-neck, Golden Nugget, Japanese, a couple of random tomato plants and a rather tall Sunflower that the beans are climbing up!

Remember back to when I ripped off all of the white jasmine from the trellis on the east side of the yard.  This is what the area looked like in May this year.



 

After lots of greywater, a big bag of sheep manure and two wheel barrows of compost, this is what it looks like now;

From another angle;





The great thing about having the pink jasmine close by is that the bees are visiting it all day, just as the pumpkin flowers are beginning to develop.  The jasmine is also benefiting from all the greywater as you can see by the massive display of beautiful flowers.  Those massive pumpkin leaves are from the Qld Blue I planted.  It is taking over the yard as are these Australian Butter Pumpkins.




 


Quite a big leaf, and all very healthy I would say.  This has been my most successful year with pumpkins and squash.  The Golden Nugget already have pumpkins growing!

How is your pumpkin patch growing and what types are your favourites?


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Posted at 12:00

6 green thoughts:

  1. Mine don't look as lush as yours but the are struggling along, the heat gives them a bit of a hiding and pumpkin beetle are doing their best to make sure I don't get crushed by an overload. They don't get too much tender loving care where they are. I planted them in the neighbours spare block after he cleared off all the growth to keep the snakes away. The day after he cleared it the wind got up and we had our own private dust storm. I suggested to him that if we put a few heaps of compost around and planted some seed we may be able to keep the dust down a bit and perhaps end up with enough pumpkin to make some of Lady Flo’s
    famous scones.     The beans are doing fine, they're in the new shade house. ;-)
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  2. I'm only just starting to grow veg for the first time - at age 44. Currently mine are in containers.

    Your pumpkin patch looks very pretty, such healthy plants. Inspiration for the work I need to do to have an "in ground" veggie garden next Summer.

    Many thanks for sharinr, friends until the upcoming cricket series, lol
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  3. Butternut squash is my all time favourite but this year I have added red kuri as well. I have huge healthy looking plants but on a few fruit so far even though I have been assisting with the pollination. Any tips for more fruit?
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  4. @ jonesy. This is the best I have had them so far in the 3 years I have been growing. The unseasonal summer rain has helped a bit as well.

    @ Mickle. thanks, I tried containers in the first year with some butternuts and they failed miserably. The pots kept drying out and they were in big pots! The long garden bed has worked the best so far with lots of sheep manure. That maybe the key!

    @ Deb. Not sure how to set more fruit. I will just be happy with whatever comes my way. Maybe plant some other flowering plants near the pumpkins. I am hoping the jasmine helps out a lot.

    Gav
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  6. That's it... I'm booking my plane ticket and I'm coming down for Gav's Pumpkin soup! When are they gunna be ready? I be there day after they harvest!

    xxxx
    ReplyDelete

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