Though it was fun to grow over-sized pumpkins this year, they proved to be a challenge. Once they were in the house, they were far too heavy to move around. I had one on a table for a few weeks, before discovering moisture trapped below. Imagine my (unpleasant) surprise when the moisture created a breeding ground for mold on my bamboo table runner? Mike helped me move the behemoth to the hard floor where I kept my eye on it thereafter.
Carving super-sized pumpkins proved equally challenging. Only one of the four made it into a Jack-o-lantern. The walls were super thick, making fine work a challenge. Mike persevered and carved a lovely Cinderella carriage. With that, he hung up his carving tools for the season.
Comparative thickness of pumpkin rinds
Cinderella would be proud
Grow, harvest, carve and display
Today we filled the wheelbarrow with rotted pumpkins, and then dumped them in to the growing yard-waste pile. The City of San Jose has a wonderful composting program. They scoop up yard waste with a “lobster” claw and drop it into a special truck on trash day. They sell the compost to city dwellers the following year. It made me smile seeing a pile of discarded Jacks at the curb.
Jacks in a Heap
After that unceremonious farewell, we carted the remaining giants to the garden wall. They look lovely in the setting sun. Unless we have a substantial earthquake, I don’t anticipate moving them again!
Gardening Nirvana 
So long, farewell, Auf Weidersehen goodnight, I hate to go and leave this pretty sight…..la la la
That’s like a little pumpkin graveyard you got happening there. That’s a really cute Cinderella Coach too. It doesn’t even look wilting yet..amazing. What will you do with your left over pumpkins now? I’ll pretend I didn’t hear ‘earthquake’ thingy…to scarey. :oP
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I was amazed that they lasted six days after carving, but when they go, they go fast. They looked just a little shriveled from the outside, but inside they are wet and moldy, even “soupy.’ One more day and we wouldn’t have been able to lift the first pumpkin without it bottoming out.
I don’tknow what to do with the remaining giants other than let them sit for awhile on the garden wall. Even the squirrels can’t penetrate those walls. Maybe I’ll drill a hole in the side of one and then park myself and my camera nearby.
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eeek moldy soup! Vivid description Alys Allan Poe 😉
I like the drill idea…they kind of remind me of those rock houses on the Flinstones, maybe you could build a little ‘Bedrock’ street for your sweet squirrels.
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I love it! I miss the Flintstones (or how they made me feel). It was always a show I looked forward to as a kid, and I always felt warm and happy watching it. Isn’t that funny.
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It’s a classic to be sure. I still love watching if I see it on. Fred was always learning good leasons about life.
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🙂
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so proud of you for growing such huge pumpkins!! Good work!!
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Awww. Thank you! Though they were highly impractical, we did have fun.
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