Golly, my last post was in October!

Since the October post below pictured my pumpkins, Galeux d'eysines, I will resume my writing with them as my  opening subject.  These are heirloom, open pollinated winter squash.  They are really very, very tasty.  We had them as pie, soup, roasted with red peppers, garlic, rosemary and Parmesan cheese,  sauteed with olive oil, garlic and parsley, simply baked pieces with a tad of butter, ginger and sugar, and probably some other ways, too.  I shared pieces with my co-workers, too.

I saved seeds from the best two of the four I harvested. One set of dried seeds I put in a jar.  They got moldy.  The second set I left out, and they we looking perfect for planting. But then a while back without noticing the seeds in the container, I put a potted plant on top of them and they got slimy from being so wet!  Really paying such close attention, aren't I?

Well, I prepared the bed for them anyway and planted three spots.  I divided the seeds so that seven or eight seeds, both  moldy and slimy, were in each hole.  Lo and behold!  Oh, how happy! Almost all the seeds have sprouted. I guess pumpkins seeds are tough and just want to grow. After they get their true leaves well full out and the seedlings have made it past the insect mow-down season I will cull to three plants, one in each hole. Seeds at (Rare seeds)

I picked up a "Sugar Baby" watermelon start at the Farmer's Market last week. I put it near the pumpkins. It is a hot spot in the garden.  Both the watermelon and the pumpkins vines run far and wide so I will let them  all run together.  They will surely take over that part of the garden. So far cantaloupe type melons haven't done well.  We shall see... Sugar Baby watermelons at Seeds of Change