Pumpkins & Squashes

ciderwithrosie_2

I've managed to grow 2 pumpkins (not sure what variety as I bought their mummy in Lidl last year, it was a yellow deep ridged one) and a spaghetti squash but unfortunately, due to leaf mould (novice grower) the vines have all but died off - if I pick them now and put them on a window sill - does anyone know if they will carry on ripening to a stage we can eat them? The spaghetti squash is still green and the one's I've bought before have been yellowy-orange. The pumpkins are almost the right colour - just a bit smaller. It would be a shame to put in the effort and not get anything out of it as they did rather take over my small veg plot.

thanks CWR

alleycat`

I think they will ripen off the vine ok if they are kept warm / get sunshine (pumpkins).

I'm not sure if the same applies to squash though.

ciderwithrosie_2

Thanks alleycat, I'll keep them warm and dry inside then and see what happens - I think they've done all the growing they're going to do and with the weather turning I don't want them to rot outside.

regards CWR

wyldeflower

i used to grow pumpkins and they do rot with excess rain and i looked at the weather forcast earlyier and even september looks bad.Hellish weather..They do take over the garden they are great ramblers.

realfood

Spaghetti squash pyjamas is yellowy with green stripes when ripe.

Primrose

Yes, if you put them in a dry place now they should slowly ripen and harden off. This hardening off process is important for all winter squashes as once the outer skin has properly hardened, it protects the inner flesh and allows the fruit to be stored in a cool dry place for several months.

ciderwithrosie_2

Thanks for the advice everyone, hopefully I'll be able to make some soup at least out of them. I never realised they were such high maintenance, not sure I'll bother next year, unless I plant them away from all my other veg.

morg_monster

I had a similar thing with my summer squash, we had some good fruits to start with, but then started getting some mildew on the leaves, I was cutting them off as I noticed it, and the fruit kept going. But now with all the rain all the leaves have the mildew, so they are alll cut off, and the vines and the small immature fruits are just rotting. Ahh well!