It was well after I went to college that we finally got trash pick up in my hometown. BTW, it was about that same time that you had to start dialing all 7 digits for a phone number. Prior to that you could just dial the last four digits if calling locally. Did I mention it wasn't a large town?
Well, last year we decided to go semi-green (let's call it chartreuse) and start a compost pile of our own. My husband researched it to no end. He had to know the scientific details of how much Carbon vs how much Nitrogen you need and many other useless facts about the biology of composting.
You throw stuff in the pile. It rots. What else is there to know?
Well, surprise! I guess we must have thrown some pumpkins away in the compost pile last fall, because we have a pumpkin patch growing there now.
And that was not a quick connection that was made in my mind.
Believe me, for a few days I thought it was the immaculate conception of the pumpkin world until that same husband pointed out it was more likely connected to last year's pumpkins.
Must have learned that in his composting research.
Ironically, we have more pumpkins in our accidental patch then we did the year I painstakingly planted seeds and hand pollinated them with a tiny paintbrush. Don't ask. I just couldn't resist helping the pumpkins along in the romance department.
Do you have a pumpkin patch this year?
Linking with Fishtail Cottage for Cottage Flora Thursday, No Minimalist Here for Open House Party Thursdays and The Inspired Room's Fall Nesting Party.
Congrats on your accidental pumpkins Pam! I think that's fun:@)
ReplyDeleteNice pumpkins! We tried to grow some this year, but we only had blooms and no pumpkins. We may have to try the tiny paint brush idea next year!
ReplyDeleteoooh nice pumpkins!
ReplyDeleteI wish we could plant pumpkins. Not sure how they'd do in a container. Living in military housing we have to do our garden in pots.
Now that's a nice surprise! Reminds me of a book I used to read to my class in the fall called "Too Many Pumpkins" by Linda White. Super cute story.
ReplyDeleteCan you believe it? The best laid plans of mice and men...and all that! Love it. I suppose you will now just toss all your seeds with great abandon into the compost pile and pray for miracles! xo Diana
ReplyDeleteThose pumpkins look great! They THRIVING in all that compost! andrea @ townandprairie
ReplyDeleteI love that white pumpkin Pam!
ReplyDeleteSo funny about your husbands compost research!!! Aren't you supposed to add worms to it as well?
Loving your volunteer punpkin patch -- they do love a well composted soil :)
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Gail
I'm sooooo thrilled for you!! We had several pumpkins and then the deer/rabbits/ground hogs got them and we had several pumpkin funerals instead. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that our gourds and mini pumpkins remain untouched.
ReplyDeleteHow fun when something happens accidently! Great photos!
ReplyDeleteHaha, I had the same thing happen but with cantaloupes! I've never grown them before, but clearly the seeds from our store bought melons went into the compost and took root!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy,
Karee
LOL- you are a hoot.
ReplyDeleteWell, those are some dandy pumpkins. So glad that your hubby set you straight on those divine seeds, even though I do think they had a little help growing.
Love your details on small town living.
We through anything that would rot, we called it garbage, into the plastic garbage bucket. Scraps went to the dog. Paper was burnt in the 55 gallon barrel and cans and glass went on the pile.
We had to dial 5 numbers- like 7-2265, and we even had a party line.
The "garbage" went out into the garden. We saved a step or 2. The ashes from the wood burning stoves, we had 2, went onto the garden, too.
The garden had sections. When a section was reaped, that was the new "garbage" pile. It got tilled in the fall and in the spring.
Trimming trees and shrubs meant a wienie roast in the fall.
All the stuff left over from harvest, pods, cobs and such went back into the garden.
To rot for the next spring planting.
I showed you my bees the other day, but for years I would try growing pumpkins and melons for nothing. It just didn't happen- no bees. So I used a Q-tip and did it myself and got some small ones. It is just easier to buy them and not yell at the guys for mowing them off.
They are city dudes- drives me nuts some times.
Lord help us if we ever got chickens. It would be a toss up on who was smarter in the yard- and you know how dumb chickens are.
Have a good one!
That happened in our compost pile a few years ago with gourds-it's such a fun surprise too!!!!
ReplyDeleteAs a matter of fact, we have 2 pumpkin patches. All we do is just lay our old ones from last year in the back of the yard and it just rots there and by the beginning of the next summer we have pumpkins growing! I still go out and buy more every year though! Enjoy!~Hugs, Patti
ReplyDeleteNothing better than volunteers! And why they come on stronger is so frustrating
ReplyDelete*hugs*deb
Isn't it amazing what can grow out of a pile of crap!
ReplyDeletem.
Obviously those pumpkins love compost!!...;)
ReplyDeleteI have been discarding our pumpkins in a damp spot where they are left to rot, the seeds sprout and then we have decorative pumpkins again!
I am your newest follower and would love for you to follow me.
Have a wonderful day!!
Look at those pumpkins! You lucky duck, I love the white one, what a beauty Pam!
ReplyDeleteOh, Pam! You are so lucky that you have a pumpkin patch! And isn't it SO funny that when you tended to your planted patch last year...nothing! Then THIS year, you are getting a beautiful crop where you didn't do a thing to it, you didn't even know it was there! Well, I can't wait to see some of the pumpkins after picking. Take lots of photos. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteBest,
Gloria
Volunteers in compost always do better. Yours look planted in that raised bed. The lovely deer came along and ate ours of course.
ReplyDeleteNo pumpkin patch here, but I enjoyed yours and your great sense of humour!
ReplyDelete-Karen
Pam, I dumped seeds in the yard from six pumpkins last year and not a one came up. Looks like I'll be buying pumpkins again this year. Congrats on your pumpkin patch and thanks for joining the Open House party.
ReplyDeletexo,
Sherry
Your blog is a new fave find of mine. During the winter months, I read up on everything. Not to do it right, mind you, but just to vicariously live Spring - Fall in my garden. I've heard other tales of pumpkins in the compost pile. Like you, I carefully planted pumpkins (and they're doing lovely) but I think I will "move" my compost pile and dispose of all my pumpkins in the compost this year. We'll see how that goes (smile).
ReplyDeleteAdding you to my blog role of blogs I'm reading this week. Fun times getting caught up here.
Wow, that's a nice crop of pumpkins in the compost heap! We always toss ours in, but no luck with any sprouting.
ReplyDelete