Green Thumb Gazette, October 2023

How-To Fall Planters!

Steps:

1. Choose planter & theme (if you have one for a particular space!)

2. When plant searching, look for 3 key elements: Thrillers,
Fillers, & Spillers

3. Grab your favorite potting mix & prepare your pot

cover bottom hole with fabric
add 1/3 of soil to the bottom of the planter & pack down lightly

4. Add your plants, starting with the thriller & work your way to the edge with fillers & then spillers

loosen the roots gently to stimulate growth before adding to your new planter
add in soil, stopping 1 in from the top of the pot
water in thoroughly

Other Tips:

Add top dressing: soil conditioner, nuggets, mulch, rock, moss, etc. to finish look
Dead head plants as needed to keep them blooming
Use liquid fertilizer once every 2 weeks
Bring onto porch near the first frost for extra plant protection

The Tale of the Pumpkin…

Pumpkins originated in the Americas long before settlers came over from Europe. Not only were they used for food, but Native Americans also dried strips of pumpkin and wove them into mats. Now, pumpkins are not only used as a food source, but they are also used for decorations and carving those awesome Jack-o-lanterns! North Carolina actually ranks 13th in the country for pumpkin production, producing 3000-4000 acres of pumpkins each year!

Although exact planting dates depend on the variety of each pumpkin, seeds will be started after all danger of frost is over. Like most members of the gourd family, they need pollination in order to successfully make their “fruit”. Bees visit male and female flowers when they open in the morning, collecting pollen and nectar. Pollen from the male flowers will stick to the hairs of bees and will slough off onto the female flower parts when the bees move from flower to flower. This is how pollination occurs, which will eventually produce the pumpkin itself! It takes most of the summer for pumpkins to grow from the leafy/vine stage to the ripe pumpkin (around 75-120 days for most varieties). They are fully ripe when they are fully colored and have a hard rind and a woody stem.

Pumpkins may seem like a “plant and leave” crop, but there is a lot to do to make sure there are perfect pumpkins ready by September. Weed, pest, and disease management are top priorities for pumpkin producers in NC, especially since our weather can be so unpredictable. If you want to try and grow your own pumpkins at home, I suggest you look for disease resistant varieties, start with and maintain a relatively weed free plot, and stay on top of your pest and disease scouting. Also, like many vegetables in the gourd family, pumpkins require a lot of space, but if you want to try growing pumpkins at home, there are some newer varieties that are more compact.

Although they are part of the gourd family and are considered a vegetable, pumpkins are technically a fruit in the eyes of botanists, since it is a product of the seed bearing structure of the plant. This means that other common vegetables like cucumbers, eggplant, okra, and tomatoes are biologically fruits as well! Whether you call them a fruit or vegetable, pumpkins add flavor and nutrition to any fall recipe! They are rich in vitamin A (supporting healthy eyes and immune system functions) and vitamin C (great for your bones, teeth, and gums). Not to mention they are also naturally lower in calories and fat free!

So as you decorate, carve, cook and bake this season with pumpkins, think about all the work that goes into growing each one and how good they are for you! Also, be sure to thank the farmers around you and the people who deliver these versatile “fruits” to your communities. When the season is over and you start making room for Christmas decorations, instead of throwing your pumpkins away, consider asking a nearby farmer if they would like any for their livestock. It is a win-win for everyone!

-Cari Mitchell