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Pumpkin Orange Smoothie

Pumpkin Orange Smoothie

  • Features: The dark orange, smooth nonribbed skin is ideal for painting Halloween faces. Matures early. Semi-determinate bushy habit requires less space in the garden. Nice handle. Semi-bush plant.
  • Maturity: 90 days / pumpkin weighs 2.3-3.6 kgs (5-8 lbs.).
  • Light: Plant in full sun.
  • Soil and water: Pumpkins grow best in loose, well-worked, well-drained soil rich in organic matter, with a soil pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Add aged compost to planting beds in advance of sowing. Pumpkin plants tolerate short periods of hot, dry weather, but it's best to keep them well watered. Regular, even watering keeps vines and fruit growing without interruption.
  • Spacing: The vines tend to grow long, so make sure there is plenty of room for the vines to crawl, approx 1.5m (5') between plants for room.
  • Height: Pumpkin plants grow or crawl on the ground.
  • Garden use: Fields, vegetable gardens or raised beds.
  • Growing tips: Each plant produces 3-4 pumpkins. Plant your pumpkins in small hills and mounds. This helps hold water around the roots. Pumpkins need a lot of water once there is fruit. You can slide a piece of cardboard underneath the fruit to protect it from the ground and prevent rotting. Insects such as spotted and striped cucumber beetles, which transmit diseases, can cause the vines to collapse and wilt. The stem is dry and brown making it easier for cutting.
  • Culinary use: Pastries, soup, stews, bread, pies, muffins, cakes, roasted, baked, decor. Cure pumpkins in direct sun at 75° to 80°F for 2 weeks; then store at 50° to 55°F, in a dry, well-ventilated place for 3 to 6 months. Do not refrigerate. Pumpkins in storage will shrink as much as 20 percent in weight but are still suitable for cooking. Pumpkin can be pureed and frozen for up to 6 months. Pumpkin also can be frozen or canned.
Pick pumpkins when they are deeply coloured, deep orange or golden white and stems and vines have dried and turned brown. The rind should be hard, not easily penetrated by a finger nail. Use a pruning shears to cut the vine; leave 5 to 10 cm (2"-4") of stem attached to the pumpkin so that it does not readily dry out. Harvest before the first freeze or pumpkins will turn soft.

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