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[SJC <indexer AT localnet.com>]

Clansgian AT wmconnect.com wrote:


> A few years ago I determined that I was growing pumpkins way too early in the 
> season.  Spring planted pumpkins matured in July and then deteriorated in the hot summer heat and did not keep well.  So I've started planting pumpkins in July and August.  Frost just killed the vines.  The mature pumpkins (I didn't time this year's as well as last year's) which were about 1/3 of them on the 
> vines, will keep until well into next summer so I don't really need to can any.
>   
Up here we plant as soon as possible but that's no guarantee we'll get 
finished fruit.  This year by the time they got started ripening it 
still hadn't frosted but the day length too short for much to happen so 
most everything this year will have to be dealt with by some means other 
than putting them under the extra bed upstairs.....Usually we can ripen 
LongPie here, it looks like a giant orange zuke, but is a delicious 
pumpkin, and holds in a good year very well; some years into May.  But 
this year they are barely ready to use at all so they're going into the 
dryer for sure
> But since you have indicated that you do it with good results, I will 
> dehydrate some this year.  I've done that with squashes and used them in squash soup 
> and it was excellent.
>   
Yep, they'll be fine.  Not sure what you're using but I usually have New 
England Pie and LongPie plus an un-named variety that was a bust for 
Johnny's Seeds, which is near here.  Didn't produce well enough to be 
competitive commercially but an excellent midsize fruit that ripens 
fairly early, important for us.

Susan Jane, in Maine