2012 Winter Squash Count

 This weekend we harvested our Winter Squash and Pumpkin patch.  We would have waited another week for the squash to mature more, but for thievery.  The foliage had mostly died back and apparently somebody thinks it's okay to help themselves without asking.  They took at least two Sweet Meat, a couple Buttercup, and ALL FOUR of the Butternut Squash.  Bastard!  We know it happened sometime this past week because we had counted our Butternuts last weekend.  They would have had to really take some time to search for them and cut them.  On the positive side, no pumpkins were taken and smashed this year.  Overall, it was a great squash year.

The squash trellis made from branches was a success.  Amazingly two giant pumpkins grew suspended without any additional support. 

The squash trellis covered in foliage earlier this summer.

Definitely looks like fall!

Cinderella Pumpkins hanging on the trellis.

The biggest pumpkin- 42lbs!

The lineup!

Squash curing in the house before storage in the cellar.  This is the first year we've grown Spaghetti squash, Sweet Meat squash and Cinderella pumpkins.  All three produced really well.

The Final Squash/Pumpkin Count: 46

Buttercup- 5 (+2 stolen)

Butternut-0 (+4 stolen)

Sweet Meat- 6 (+2 stolen)

Spaghetti- 17

Turban- 3

Giant Pumpkin- 4

Regular Pumpkin- 3

Cinderella Pumpkin- 7

Jack Be Little- 1

Squash & Pumpkin Harvest

This weekend we cleared our squash and pumpkin patch.  The leaves had mostly died back, exposing our crop to the mischievous.  A neighbor informed us that he had seen a pumpkin of ours smashed to bits a few days prior up the road and suggested we don't delay our harvest.  We took a close look and sure enough a good-sized pumpkin as well as two beautiful turban squashes were gone.  We weren't sad about the pumpkin, but the turban squash... we were looking forward to eating those.  One reason we grow pumpkins is to lure kids into taking those instead of the squash.  But, I guess the Turbans are just too irresistible for kids, or maybe even an adult gleaned them to enjoy.  We always knew that planting in the parking strip could be a challenge.  However, this is year three and the first time we've noticed anything taken without our consent, so I guess we can consider ourselves lucky.  

One more note about mischievous kids, our neighbor caught a young boy from across the street and his friend up in her yard rustling through her corn patch.  Upon asking them what they were doing, they promptly asked to have some corn.  They were denied.  Coincidentally, I spotted this same 11-year old boy a couple weeks ago riding his bike very slowly along our squash patch.  

Our big Humpkin

(Hubbard x Giant Pumpkin- we believe)

Final Count for 2011

2- Humpkins

5- Pumpkins (+1 stolen)

8- Buttercup

2- Butternut (+1 we ate)

1- Turban (+1 we ate) (+2 stolen)

While this is the smallest harvest we've had over the past three years, it should be more than plenty to eat over the fall.

Fall Squash & Pumpkin Harvest

Giant Pumpkin, Field Pumpkin, Buttercup Squash, Blue Hubbard Squash, Jack-Be-Little Pumpkin, Crookneck Squash, Scallop Squash

Home Grown Decor

(no need for imported plastic junk on our porch)