We have found a great way of growing pumpkins without the headache of caterpillars boring holes into them and all manner of insects laying their eggs in the growing fruit.  Previously, we grew our pumpkins “high and dry” on beds so that we would be able to spot them for harvest.  Unfortunately, this also meant that that all the other critters could see them too and we had all sorts of problems with infestations.

Rather fortuitously, a pumpkin patch grew out of a voluntary plant on the ground and it has grown into a monster.

The surrounding perennial peanut and grass render the vegetables virtually undetectable to all.   This is why we have called it the Hidden Pumpkin Technique.  The pumpkins are deeply embedded in the grass and when picked, they are beautiful and pristine with no signs of insect damage.

All you need to do is to find a Munchkin to walk through the patch every day to try to spot any harvestable pumpkin.  It can be a lot of fun because they are actually very hard to find and requires the keen eye of a forager.

We have been picking young pumpkins…at this stage, they taste just like courgettes (or zucchini).

I rarely allow the pumpkins to fully mature because I distinctly dislike hacking into the tough shell…it is so much work!  They are so much sweeter when they are green and can be steamed like a vegetable.

We have been mostly eating pumpkin!!

Remember…you can still vote for your Favourite Candidate for the Mayoral Election 2015 for Paradise Piggies!!

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