I love visiting the pumpkin patch. I love watching the giant pumpkins grow. I love the reminder that all my favorite autumn things will be here soon. I think giant pumpkins are the most exciting thing in a garden because their growth is so obvious from visit to visit. When I babysat a giant pumpkin patch in the past, I swore they looked bigger at night than they were that morning. Yes, they really grow that fast and could gain 20 pounds in a day during peek growing time.
Growing a giant pumpkin is far more complicated than just throwing some seeds in the garden and hoping to come back and find a big pumpkin waiting for you. Here is one giant pumpkins set up. He is protected from too much sun. He is also protected from the cold.
I removed the cover to take a peek at this giant. Did you know that pumpkin color is genetic? I didn't, until I started visiting the pumpkin patch. Some pumpkins have genes to be bright orange while others are much lighter in color. It is interesting to see their color change as they grow (and to see the myriad of colors of the giant pumpkins that arrive at the weigh off).
If you aren't already following my facebook page, please visit https://www.facebook.com/JessicaCollinsPhotography. Also, if you enjoy seeing the giant pumpkins grow and want to see one in person (and are in CT or surrounding area), be sure to check out https://www.facebook.com/Ridgefieldpumpkinweighoff.
One of my favorite things to visit at fall fairs are the giant pumpkins! Unbelievable how big they get!
ReplyDeleteme too! I love seeing the giant pumpkins at the fall fairs. I'm so grateful my giant pumpkin growing friend gives me the opportunity to visit, photograph and blog about his giants :-)
DeleteWe tried growing pumpkins one year but I think they rotted on the bottom. I can never figure out how they can get them to grow so well, let alone be this huge
ReplyDeleteI haven't had the best luck growing my own either (groundhogs managed to get into my garden), but I do plan to attempt again next year. I'm in awe of those who can grow them to be gigantic (and grateful my friend lets me visit the pumpkin patch to photograph and blog on his giants).
Deletevery cool! I hear that rotating the pumpkin will keep from them from getting bottom rot, but not sure how they do it when they get THAT large! Would be interesting to find out!
ReplyDeleteOnce they hit a certain size, they put a special mat under them to help prevent bottom rot (to keep the bottom dry).
DeleteI LOVE pumpkins! I once grew a rogue pumpkin patch when some kids threw our jack'o'latern in the bushes by my house- we must have left some seeds in there because we had 2 little pumpkins the next year! I'll bet it's cool to see the big pumpkins!
ReplyDeleteWendy @ weights over dot com
Wendy, that must have been a fun surprise to see pumpkins growing when you didn't expect it :-)
DeleteI remember my young son wanting to climb on the giant pumpkins at the fair. So fun!
ReplyDeleteawww, fun! i love seeing all the giant pumpkins at the fairs. makes it really feel like fall.
DeleteI love pumpkins! I used to grow them, but mine always came out looking squished.
ReplyDeleteI love the funky shaped pumpkins :-)
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