Pumpkin and gourd questions

[soccerchick]

DD really wants to grow pumpkins for Halloween. Has anyone done here this? When do you usually plant to get them in time for October?

Also, does anyone know how to "cure" gourds so we can use them for a while?

Thanks for any info!

 

[nocnurse]

Plant them now. If they ripen before Halloween, they store just fine. I like to let the kids scratch their initial into the bottom of the baby pumpkins. As the pumpkins grow, their initials scar over and the kids love keeping track of their own pumpkin.

Gourds essentially cure themselves. I leave them on the vine until the vines wither. Then just store them in a cool dry place until you are ready to use them.

 

[soccerchick]

Thanks for the reply. We planted a few seeds the other weekend and they are already coming up. I'll go ahead and plant the rest of them. I love the scratching the name idea.

thanks again!