Pumpkin power
Last week Stanley and Connie came up to the allotment after school to meet me and help to pick up our two (rather huge) pumpkins. I was slightly worried they'd get nicked as it's getting close to Halloween.
Keith gave us a single 'Atlantic giant' plant in a pot back in the spring which Stan planted directly into a couple of barrow loads of compost. Other than water it a couple of times, limit it to two fruits and cut back some wild growth which was trying to take over the whole plot we have literally done nothing to it. It has however done amazingly well (must have been the wet summer...) and we had two really nice big pumpkins on it.
There was a friendly competition between myself, Manuel and Keith. You know the sort of thing- who can grow the biggest, most macho pumpkin in the World. All in good spirits though. Well Keith certainly won it with around 39 Kilos, we came second with 34 k and Manuel brought up the rear with 32 k (although he said he had one at home which weighed over 60 kilos- yeah right Manuel!) Once it had been weighed I scooped out the insides (saving some for soup and pies, but not all as there was just far too much so the extra went on the compost), and then Connie got here chance to get arty with it and draw a scary face on it so that I could carve it out. Well, even though I am her proud Dad I have to say that Connie did an absolutely fabulous job on it and once we lit and placed the tea lights inside, it looked the absolute business. Really scary-just as it should be. So Stanley grew it, I scooped it and Connie carved it. That's what I call wholesome family fun and that's what the allotment is all about. We'll definitely be growing some more next year. Joe
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Haven't grown pumpkins as I don't know what to do with them, and apart from the flowers for wild life I only grow to eat on our allotment.
As for things being nicked half our onions went for a walk whilst they were drying and some-one liked our french beans so much they harvested them at least twice!
I was wondering about your paths on the allotment, I've heard you mention them a couple of times but missed both your blog and the episode where you started the allotment, and wondered if there was a link, to show what and how you made them? We have been collecting pallets, but keeping them in the garden - so they don't walk!
thanks Elaine
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We had a visit from local youths who gathered lots of the pumpkins and used them as footballs! Also targeted as good for kicking were a few cabbages.
Do you have any problems with vandalism at Enfield?
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Hi Joe, have enjoyed your allotment slot this year, and it has been interesting the parallels with us having also taken on initially an available half plot this season, then switching to a full size plot in September.
We are fotunate that our site is fairly secure so have not had the unwelcome attention of the yob element. However, there have been sites that have been victim to crop raids which has been covered in our local press.
As far as our pumpkins we struggled to get ours to produce sizeable Pumpkins despite watering. However, next season we are trying some different varieties for our children to enjoy for Halloween and consumption.
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