Cucumbers and Pumpkins?

Lis L 3/19/2010, 12:44 am

Hi all,
I was wondering about people's expereinces growing cucumbers and squash up here. I tend to mostly steer clear of the hot weather crops, but with the rest of my garden hopefully being a little easier with SFG I thought I would maybe try a lemon cucumber and my son is dying to grow a pumpkin. Can anyone suggest a type of pumpkin? I am less interested in what it looks/tastes like and more interested in him successfully growing a pumpkin. We have very limited space so I think we will only be able to put in one pumpkin plant. I know it is too early for these veggies but I thought I'd ask so I can get the right seeds/starts.
Thanks!
-Elissa

happyfrog 3/19/2010, 7:08 am

hi! i'm zone 5 and my son also asked to grow pumpkins and watermelons this year.

so i bought sugar baby watermelon seeds and the small pie pumpkin seeds.

we'll be starting them from seeds in mid may directly in the soil - to protect from any unexpected late frosts, i will use a gallon milk jug over the seed planted in soil that has bottom cut off to create a mini greenhouse for the seed. it was a system that worked great for me last year when i grew canteloupe and cucumbers - and both were trellised - it was the neatest thing ever to have canteloupe groiwing 2-3 feet off the ground! Smile

i will do the same with pumpkin and watermelon. - which is why i chose smaller varieties - so the chances of success are greater. Smile

can't wait to hear how your garden growing goes - it's just such fun to plant and then watch thos small seeds turn into humongous plants!

Lavender Debs 3/19/2010, 9:27 am

Good morning Elissa

I am in Everett, Washington but all my pumpkin growing experience came while living in a mountain valley. I'm sorry to tell you that we always ended up giving what we had hoped would be our jack-o-lantern to the chickens. Then we made a fall pilgrimage to the flat lands for a day at the pumpkin patch (so someone must be able to grow them!)

Lemon cucumbers are a good choice. Much to my surprise I got lemon cucumbers in my very first garden....the one that I never weeded at all. Now I usually choose a bush cucumber, stick at least one into a pot on the deck and one in the garden (this is my 1st year SFG). I get enough for summer salads. I have not made pickles in years.

This is from my favorite Seattle garden writer.

Pumpkins Pumpkins are prima donna crops, requiring lots of everything, from space to food and water. Plant in spring after the last frost date. They grow well in mounded beds in full sun, and do best when given transplant fertilizer at planting time and then fed every few weeks with a mild (5-5-5) all-purpose feed. Keep the soil moist with drip irrigation or leaky hose lines under the mulch; avoid wetting the foliage, which can trigger molds and mildews. Since incomplete pollination results in really weird-looking pumpkins, use a cover crop of sweet alyssum and other simple flowers to keep the bees visiting.
Ann Lovejoy, Fresh from the Garden Cookbook

Deborah . . . .who whishes you a beautiful jack-o-lantern and has been blessed with dumb-luck and hopes the same for you!

growdarnit 3/19/2010, 9:25 pm

lis; I live in Tacoma and never had a problem growing pumpkins or cucumber in fact they grow so well I have to give some away

Lavender Debs 3/19/2010, 10:04 pm

Oh hey ! My favorite garden blogger is in Tacoma ....It used to be two rainy side gardeners, now I think his blog is the Wet side or something

boffer 3/21/2010, 1:47 am

growdarnit wrote:lis; I live in Tacoma and never had a problem growing pumpkins or cucumber in fact they grow so well I have to give some away

Hiya growdarnit, nice to see another 'rust not tan' sfg'er on the forum. We live in Yelm, but my wife's business is in Parkland.

My BIL lives near Pierce College, he grows the giant pumpkins every year. He'll never win a prize, but they do come in regularly over 200 Lb.

Last year was great for cukes. We grew a lemon cuke for the novelty. The shape was fun, but the skin was thick, not really edible, and by the time we got done peeling it, there really wasn't much left to slice and eat.

How do you fix a broken pumkin?
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A pumpkin patch, of course! Cucumbers and Pumpkins? 61949

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