New England Gardener

When planting a children’s garden, almost anything goes, but there are a few, three really, obligatory crops. And any kid can tell you what they are. Sunflowers, corn and pumpkins. And this September, the news from the pumpkin patch at the community garden is not good. We planted nearly thirty seedlings and do you know how many vines are bearing fruit? One. And by one, I mean one pumpkin. One small pumpkin.

Crop failure is always a disappointment, but losing pumpkins is a real bummer. I think those bright orange balls ease the transition back to the school year. Their promise of treats and after dark antics helps lessen the burden of homework and diminishing daylight after supper.

I always thought pumpkins were easy to grow. Stories abound…..”I just threw the seeds out the window and the next thing I knew, Jim had to use a forklift to get an 892 pound pumpkin off the lawn.” This has not been my experience.

The pumpkins were plagued with cucumber beetles, powdery mildew and too much rain this summer, but this isn’t the first year our patch has produced a scant crop. I’m hoping some of you pumpkin pros will have a few suggestions. We usually transplant seedlings into the garden in mid June and I wonder if we’d be better off direct seeding into the garden? Our soil is good, but maybe sidedressing with compost would help? The fact that we have so few pumpkins tells me we’ve got a pollination problem, but I find this hard to believe. There’s a very active beehive about 15 yards from the pumpkin patch.

We promise a “pumpkin for every child” at our fall Harvest Supper. Hmmm. Maybe I should start spray painting the zucchini?