For the past few years, my quest to grow pumpkins on my deck has been nothing short of a comedy of errors. Initially, I tried my luck in the garden, dreaming of vibrant orange fruits adorning my space, but each time a wild critter - a mischievous squirrel or hungry bunny - would sneak in and devour my tender plants before they could even bear a single fruit. Frustrated, I switched to pot gardening, hoping that the elevated space would keep my crops safe. While the plants flourished and produced beautiful flowers, I was left disheartened as they failed to develop pumpkins. This year, however, my determination propelled me to conduct some research that revealed I had been underestimating the importance of pot size. I promptly upgraded to a larger container, and to my surprise, I found two pumpkins developing! My excited was palpable, but I faced a new challenge: I planted them far too early, meaning I needed to strategize on how to keep my pumpkins healthy and vibrant until Halloween - a goal that had been my inspiration from the very beginning.
Reflecting on this year's experience, I've gained valuable insights that I plan to implement in the future. One of the main lessons was that size truly matters; next year I will invest in a 10-gallon pot to give my pumpkin plants ample room to flourish. Perhaps this change will not only yield larger pumpkins but could also increase the number of fruits I can harvest. Armed with newfound knowledge and a hint of experience, I'm more optimistic than ever about pumpkin growing endeavors. With each setback I've grown a little wiser, and I can't wait to see what next season brings. For now, my two early pumpkins will be lovingly tended as I plot my strategy for a bigger, better harvest in the coming year.
Update in Sept. 2024. The two pumpkins kept for nearly one year in perfect condition in our cold basement. No treatments to preserve either one was needed. Just shy of a year the larger one developed a soft spot that became moldy.
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