Growing pumpkins and amaranth. The pumpkins here are Winter Luxury, which is supposed to be very good for pies. I timed the planting so that they should be producing ripe pumpkins starting in early October, and should keep well for a while. I’m looking forward to trying some baking with my own homegrown pumpkins.
Amaranth I was just curious to try, and will have to research more, but I think will be interesting. The plants are beautiful, and the seeds are supposed to be very nutritious and versatile. I have two varieties, Golden Giant and UCSC Popping Amaranth.
A couple days ago I planted another patch of a faster-growing pumpkin variety called Montana Jack. They should also be ready in early to mid October, and are good for carving.
Both patches are bordered with a variety of nasturtiums, marigolds, and calendula. They should all help keep pests off the main crops. Some they repel, some they will attract so that the pests eat them instead of the pumpkins and amaranth. The nasturtiums are also edible, so I can also use whatever ones aren’t eaten by pests myself. And calendula can be used for some home remedies, although again I’ll have to do more research.
Soon there should be some flowers blooming, and by late summer there should be some pumpkins starting to grow.
