Miniature Pumpkins (after 5 Months)

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I harvested the miniature pumpkins from last summers’ vines back in October. There were 8 of them in all. I gave three of them to my daughter and she still has them on her kitchen counter – looking much the same as they did in October.

I put the 5 I kept in a cut glass bowl, and they have been on my kitchen table since. Two of mine have dried – shriveled. It seems that their color has changed slightly. They are not soft and don’t smell. They are even more interesting now than they were back in October!

Miniature Pumpkin Harvest

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I bought a packet of seeds for miniature pumpkins last fall and planted a couple of them in one of the flowerbeds behind my house. The one that came up first, and created a monster vine, produced 7 small ghost pumpkins! The other one came up later and only produced one yellow and orange skinned pumpkin.

I bought a packet of seeds for miniature pumpkins last fall and planted a couple of them in one of the flowerbeds behind my house. The one that came up first, and created a monster vine, produced 7 small ghost pumpkins! The other one came up later and only produced one yellow and orange skinned pumpkin.

I harvested them all last week and took three to my daughter for her dining room table; I haven’t decided whether to put my 5 on the island in my kitchen or on our breakfast table. They are not large enough to be worthwhile cooking/eating. Perhaps next year I’ll get some pie pumpkin seeds and grow pumpkins in several beds around the house. The vines look very lush and green for most of the season.

Maybe I’ll try a Zentangle pattern on one of the ghost pumpkins….

Plant of the Month: Miniature Pumpkins

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The pumpkin vine provides a leafy border between my meadow garden and the yard. It has had a lot of blossoms…and has been a resting place for interesting insects like the snowberry clearwing hummingbird moth.

But – the best part is the miniature pumpkins. They are white and there are 6-8 on the vine! They hide under grass and leaves….maybe one or two have been eaten by something (we have a lot of squirrels). I am looking forward to baking the edible jewels --- eating the orange interior with a drizzle of butter and maple syrup. Yum!