HAWLEY, PA — What makes the pumpkin so great? Is it the Charlie Brown television special about the mythical Great Pumpkin rising out of the pumpkin patch? Is it the fact that it was an important food cultivated by Native Americans for thousands of years? Or is it because of the countless pumpkin pies we devour at Thanksgiving and other holiday gatherings?

Jessie Caccavale, an organic farmer and educator at Hickory Heart Meadow Farm, spoke to the Country Gardeners on October 1 about successfully growing pumpkins from seed, their life cycle and harvesting them. Pumpkins are part of the cucurbit family, which also includes all squashes, cucumbers, gourds, all melons and the loofah.

It is best to plant the seeds directly in the ground after the danger of frost has passed in the spring, rather than seed starting ahead of time. When buying seeds, it’s very important to buy northern varieties and always check the seed packet for information on days to maturity. In northeast Pennsylvania we only have around 120 days from planting to maturity before the fall frost. 

Plants in the cucurbit family rely on pollinator intervention for their fruit to grow. They have many yellow or white flowers to draw in pollinators and bees. Cucurbit plants have male and female flowers, and if the female flower does not get enough pollination, the fruits will not grow or only grow partially. 

According to Caccavale, “Full sun, keep your pollinators around, no overhead spraying, and watering deeply underneath the plant about once a week will get anything in the cucurbit family, to grow well.”

She also emphasized the importance of crop rotation, removal of plant debris, and aeration to avoid plant diseases and pests. Always follow directions on seed packets on how far apart to plant them.

When harvesting cucurbits, several indicators can help determine when they are ready to pick: mature color, a dying or withering vine, a dry stem, and a dried-up tendril near the stem. You can also do a fingernail test, and if you cannot pierce your nail through the flesh, it is probably ripe. Your cucurbits should be harvested before the first frost, or you will lose them to frost damage.

Once you pick cucurbit, cure them for two to three weeks, except acorn squash. They should be cured in a warm spot, around 80 degrees, not in direct sun. As they cure, they will harden and take on a dull color. Cut the pumpkins, squashes, or gourds from the vine and leave the stem intact. The stem prevents bacteria from getting inside. 

Hickory Heart Meadow Farm (www.outdoornurture.org and info@outdoornurture.org) is an organic regenerative farm operated by Outdoor Nurture, 203 Rowland Road, in Greeley, PA. Their mission is to provide natural farming, gardening and environmental education through hands-on experiences.

The Country Gardeners meet on the first Thursday of each month at 1 p.m., at the Wallenpaupack Environmental Learning Center, 126 Lamberton Lane in Hawley. The next meeting will be on Thursday, November 5, and will cover baking with herbs. The speaker will be Marcia Dunsmore, herbalist and chef, and the owner of Myrtle Avenue Bakehouse. Admission is free and refreshments are served.