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Canada

Hi everyone! First timer here!!!
We came to pumpkin growing accidentally as the one fruit I have is from a lovely plant that grew out of our composter. I had never even grown vegetables before. Anyway, the pumpkin plant was obviously happy growing from that lush location. This is not a giant pumpkin. Guess you figured out I threw last year's halloween pumpkin seeds-and-all in!
My question is this:
Today I saw that a rodent had bitten through the stem about a foot from the pumpkin. So it's officially picked now. But it only has a few flecks of orange. Will a 12-inch wide pumpkin of the non-giant variety ripen off the vine in the week after it's picked? Will bringing it to a sunny spot indoors help?
Thanks very much! A lovely msg board you have here!

10/21/2002 4:20:55 PM

Herndon, VA

Keeping it in a warm/sunny location will help to ripen it, but if there is very little orange you probably won't get very far in a week. I had 3 (non-giants) that way a few years ago, and they were green for Halloween. I still craved them as Jack-O-Lanterns and put them in a dark area (lit up inside) and nobody seemed to notice. In the dark, all you will see is the face anyway.

10/21/2002 9:17:58 PM

Canada

Hi Bruiser, that's the answer I expected. Thanks for the benefit of your experience! It's been fun for the kids and I to watch this baby grow and a conversation piece with the neighbours. We will certainly carve this thing and put it out.

10/22/2002 2:29:18 PM