Category Archives: 2017

Pumpkin Photoshoots

2017, ,

We rarely get to see the results of the photo-shoots that take place in the pumpkin patch but this year it was a little different.

Cat’s Dog Photography from Preston joined us again to get their Halloween shot of Poppy on a giant pumpkin….

Halloween Photo Shoot with Cats Dog Photography
Halloween Photo Shoot with Cats Dog Photography

… but whilst they were there my old faithful Springer Spaniel Molly was woken from her slumbers to have her own photo taken. The photos are fantastic and have captured some of Molly’s expressions that perhaps only I can see but it makes them much more than a photo to me.

Molly by Cats Dog Photography
Molly by Cats Dog Photography
Molly - my faithful Springer Spaniel
Molly – my faithful Springer Spaniel
Molly by Cats Dog Photography
Molly by Cats Dog Photography

More info:
www.facebook.com/catsdogphotography/
www.catsdog.co.uk/

Winter Squash Uchiki Kuri

2017, , , , , ,

Whilst the giant pumpkins and the large carving pumpkins have been going out for a few weeks now, today marked the first of the ‘eating’ pumpkins to be gathered.

Harvesting Uchiki Kuri winter squash
Harvesting Uchiki Kuri winter squash

Uchiki Kuri is actually a winter squash with a taste far superior to pumpkin. They are very early to mature and have superb storage characteristics.

With smooth butter coloured flesh and a hard bright sunset orange coloured rind has a pronounced, distinctive chestnut flavour.

Uchiki Kuri Squash is also known by a variety of names: commonly known as Potimarron or Onion Squash because of its shape, and is also known as Japanese squash, Orange Hokkaido or Red Kuri squash.

Sortin’ it ahhhht for Eastenders

2017, , , ,

An early start this morning to harvest the first pumpkin of the season ready for filming the Halloween episodes of BBC’s Eastenders. I’ve been working with the prop buyers to match the pumpkin supplied to the script so hopefully we might see it again in Albert Square towards the end of October.

2017 'Eastenders' Pumpkin
BBC’Eastenders’ Pumpkin ready for collection
'Eastenders' Pumpkin in boot
BBC ‘Eastenders’ Pumpkin in boot
Eastenders pumpkin growing
BBC Eastenders pumpkin growing

Giants ready for collection

2017,

I can’t remember the last time we had such a good selection of seriously big pumpkins available so early.

They are expensive but they are available to be cut and collected for your event,  activity, TV filming or PR photo shoot.

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Three of the 2017 giant pumpkins are already (1st September) big enough to conceal an adult and so could be used as boats if anyone fancies having a go at breaking the Guinness World Record. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-24653190

Be aware that I stand by my quote and will not be held responsible for any mishaps to idiots wishing to try!

“Going in the sea in large vegetables is not a good idea”
Mark O’Hanlon, Pumpkin grower

2017 Pumpkin Update

2017, , ,
2017 Big Pumpkin update
2017 Big Pumpkin Plants

All the 2017 pumpkins are now planted – indoors and outdoors. After a difficult germination (we are blaming the seed compost we used) the plants grew well.

For the indoor plants the next milestone is pollination where we select the female flower we want to grow on and the male flower that we wish to cross pollinate it with. The outdoor plants have to take their chances with what our bees decide is best for them.

Manually pollinating pumpkins
Manually pollinating pumpkins

Keeping up with the weeding and watering are the ongoing challenges until harvest time.

The 2017 Giant Pumpkin Season Begins

2017,

The indoor beds are prepared and the first plant is in… a Mark Clementz 1734 lb.

Mark Clementz 1734 planted
A very lonely Giant Pumpkin Plant grown from a 1734 lb seed

These indoor plants have a very pampered existence, shielded from the wind and carefully irrigated.

Mark Baggs 1582 planted
A giant pumpkin plant from a Mark Baggs 1582 lb seed

These plants will hopefully produce some  great looking ‘Cinderella’ giant pumpkins early in the season for events, photo shoots or exhibition carvings.

Mark Clementz 1474 planted
A freshly planted giant pumpkin plant grown from a 1474 lb pumpkin seed