I haven't done anything with pumpkin seeds, Cat. Should ... they seem to grow well for me.

I have grown potatoes (in the ground) and had a good season. That isn't always the case. There was something over 1#/square foot in the bed this year. They were all early varieties and harvesting began in July for that 4' by 25' bed.

The soil is well-prepared with compostables the fall before, so it is fertile ground. When the plants have made pretty good growth, I put down a little organic fertilizer and cover the bed with compost. This serves to keep the developing tubers out of the sunlight. Seed for Asian greens go in that bed as the spuds are taken out.

Steve

I have so much disease in my soil that I can't grow potatoes anymore, I end up with less than I planted.

As for pumpkins and winter squash, I scoop out the innards, try to remove some of the glop but don't worry about that too much, then take a plate or some other flat sturdy thing, layer it with 2 thickness of paper towel, then spread out the seeds/glop on the paper towel and put the whole lot up on top of one of our kitchen cupboards - dry, warm, out of the way, and forget it for a few months.

Then its pretty easy to take it outside with a breeze and crumble it up a bit, the now dry glop just blows away leaving the seed.

Make sure you're not trying to save hybrid seed, or seed thats been cross-pollinated with some other species of C Maxima. That doesn't work out so well - ask me how I know….:)

Hey Cat!

I started to reply to you this morning, then realized I'd be late for work if I finished.

I did about the same as you, volume wise. I grew mine in 15 gallon plastic pots with drainage holes then added potting soil, compost and peat moss. Not a bust, but I wasn't wowed by the results either. Still, I enjoyed growing them. They are very good. I think I'll follow Steve's advice next time, make sure the soil is very loose and fertilize more.

I think you need to have a root cellar or something similar if you're going to store potatoes over winter for seed next year. Something that's cold, but not freezing and be able to keep them dry enough to not mold, but enough moisture so they don't dry up. Seems daunting to me. But since seed potatoes are kind of pricey, maybe it's worth a shot!

I didn't fertilize much, maybe would have had a better crop if I did. We had enough rain that I didn't have to water the pots much and was afraid that I'd over water them and they'd rot if I added much liquid fertilizer.

I was lazy one year and left a few pumpkins in the patch to rot over winter. I ended up with pumpkin seeds all over the place, which happily sprouted in the flower beds. I think David has it right. Just save a handful and let them dry out really well before cleaning them off and storing them for planting next year. Skybird told me not to put pumpkin seeds in the compost pile because they will grow in the compost. They are a hardy seed!

Barb

I didn't think to comment on keeping seed potatoes.

I can't do it. The basement is likely too warm during much of the fall. Remember, I like to grow the "earlies." They are in that basement for several weeks of summer.

If I can get the spuds through January, that's the best I can hope for.

Steve

Potatoes have a "dormant" period that they go through before they will begin to sprout. The length of their dormancy is dependent on type, so if you have a variety with a long one, your success of storing them is better. For example, I have sangre and purple majesty that have been sitting in my laundry room in a plastic tote since mid-August. The PM all have 3" long sprouts whereas the sangre's barely have any growth.

Course, you also have to keep them at a cool temperature (I think 40*) with the right humidity and all, but if you can it would definitely be worth it. Like Barb said, buying them costs a pretty penny, and the shipping is even worse. This year, I think I paid over 10$ for shipping alone on just 3-4 lbs of seed from a local company right here in Colorado.

I had potatos mysterically pop up in my raised beds last summer, so i continued to add soil throughout the season. Had a great crop. I sometimes get lazy and through my food scrap for compost directly into the bed. Surprise...

Gjmancini, those little "surprises" are kind of fun. I've ended up with some beautiful squash that way... Usually after some "what's growing in my lettuce?" thoughts and comments.

Pumpkins and using Them

I know I'm in danger of being misled. It was a very good year for growing and the proper maturing of pumpkins and squash ...Three months since killing frost, 2 months since I carried it down there - the pumpkin from the basement shelf was just fine!

I'm pleased with how well pumpkins grow in my garden, how I've learned to do one or two things with them, and their storage life. Unfortunately, I haven't come up with many ways to use them. This one has been waiting down there for me for 2 months ... meanwhile, I've nearly used all of my winter squash.

(It was baked and I now have enuf pulp for 12 loaves of pumpkin bread ..! :o)

These Rock Star pumpkins only made it to the first few days of December, last year. A freezing garage isn't the best place for them and they would not have fared better this time around. It would surprise me if pumpkins store as well as winter squash but, maybe!

I understand that pumpkin is an important crop in eastern Europe because of the value of the seed for cooking oil. I've never done anything with pumpkin seeds other than plant them ...

Steve

There's a way to make a pretty good soup out of the seeds - kind of crush them up then boil them to dissolve the innards, then sieve out the shells. Then mix the result with chicken stock, veggies and what not, and voila. I've also soaked them in salty water overnight then roasted them in the oven and just snarfed them down, husk and all.

This past season was a disaster for my squash - I ended up buying some at the store and it just isn't the same.

Having cabin fever and needing to get my hands dirty I started some sweet potatoes in water to grow slips. They will then be rooted and put in soil. Im growing indoors for now in tubs until the weather breaks and they can go outside. This is my first time trying sweet tatters. I have also started some leeks on my window cill from the cut off of the bunch. It is growing. The snow looks so pretty, but im ready to be out in the garden.

I was just thinking about sweet potatoes last night. The older I get I have started trying new things & up until recently havent liked sweet potatoes at all. Well this year I have eaten them every which way & wanted to grow my own since my in ground potatoes EXPLODED this year! I watched a youtube video on growing them and I am so excited to start I just didnt know when. Well after seeing that you have yours in water growing already I am thinking I am late....am I? What is Colorados timing for growing sweet potatoes anyways? Any advice/help I am open 2 Thx!!
Veronica

Veronica, you need advice on growing sweet potatoes in Colorado! (I'll repeat that in just a minute so that more knowledgeable, sweet potato growers won't miss it. ;o)

Both my father and DW are more knowledgeable about sweet potatoes than I am. They laughed at the results of my efforts to grow them so ... I won't bother to share that experience ...

If you are open to new things, how about, you or others, being open to hulless pumpkin seeds?

I should be mentioning the new Richter catalog in the catalog thread. It came yesterday and I noticed their Styrian Pumpkin seed. For some reason, they put this variety in their herb listing. However, it is grown for its oil. Apparently, pumpkin seed oil is commonly used for cooking in eastern Europe ... seems like I have already said that on this thread ...

Anyway, I don't see why one couldn't eat these seeds, or use the pumpkins for pie!

Steve :o)

Veronica, you need advice on growing sweet potatoes in Colorado!

Here is a link that might be useful: Styrian pumpkin seed

Those hull-less pumpkin seeds make a great soup - dry and crush them up and add as a thickener. Along the lines of almond or other nut soups.

I've been dallying with growing sweet potatoes around here for the past few years. Its a hot-weather plant, with a generally longer growing season, so a 'challenge' for me.

I've tried in both garden soil and containers. Started slips in small pots then transplanted. I ended up with an impressive total biomass of sweet potatoes, but pretty much a whole lotta small ones and not very many big ones. I chalked this up to the transplanting - seems to have shocked the plant into sending down multiple roots which led to multiple wee potatoes.

It also might be a good idea not to plant them in heavy clay soil like I did, but then if all you have is clay soil.... :-)

A 5 gallon container full of loose potting soil, kept moist and in the sun, fed occasionally with a bucket of water where compost was soaked overnight, gave a pretty impressive basket full of good sized sweet potatoes.

Cost effective? probably not. But fun, and the leaves are entirely edible when cooked like spinach, and its not an unattractive container plant.

Thanks guys for your advice....I will try to remember to post pics as I go, or should I say as I grow ;) haha