Friday, Dec

Baby bear pumpkin perfect half-pint

Geoff
Tobiasson

oe

OVER THE GARDEN GAT

DGON’T STOP me now, I’m
on a roll. It may not be a
spring roll, it is more like a
vegetable roll.

Last week we looked at the se-
cond start on the edibles or, put-
ting it tess obtusely, the vegetable
w'nners,

The first is a pumpkin, pum-
pkin ‘‘Baby Bear’’ to be specific.

On first glance you might think
it liberal to call this a pumpkin;
pumpkinette might be more ap-
propriate, or pumpkin petits.

You see p. ‘‘Baby Bear” is a
miniature version of the classic
jack-o’-lantern. Where its more
typical relatives average 10 to 20
pounds and the world record
stands in excess of 400, this little
runt rarely breaks 24 pounds.

So why pin a medal on a half-
pint?

The best answer I can give is

that it is a perfect half-pint. In
fact, it is a perfectly scaled-down
version of that hallowed orb of
Halloween.

The typical dimensions are five
to six inches (12 to 15 cm) in di-
ameter, 3% to four inches in
height and averaging 1% to two
pounds in weight.

The graceful stem is about three
inches (eight cm) long and is sur-
prisingly strong. This makes a
perfect handle for all the young
chiidren who inevitably fall in love
with them.

This tittie guy is versatile for
use as a jack-o’-lantern, indoor
decoration when left unsculptured,
or as pie filling.

Do not forget to save the seeds;
they are hull-less and make great,
nutritious seed-snacks for the
kids.

Unlike their parents, the seeds
are of medium size.

As with all members of the
squash family, give this plant all
the sun and space you can spare.

The vines are of normal length
and are happiest with approxi-
mately 30 to 60 square feet.

“Baby Bear’? pumpkins mature
in about 105 days, given adequate
sunshine.

Due to this long maturation
period and their natural aversion
to our cold, wet springs, you are
better off giving these plants a
good headstart indoors.

Sow seeds into a sterile medium
three to four weeks prior to taking
them outside; this means the mid-
die of April in our area.

The use of cold frames, clothes
and especially Reemay lawn and
garden fabric will help you off to
an earlier start.

QUEEN SIZE
MATTRESS

By the way, this is one of those
plants that really will benefit when
planted in a peat pot.

As it is imperative that we get
these plants off to as vigorous a
Start as possible, the reduced
transplant shock of planting them

pot and all is the only way to go.

If the weather conditions are
adverse immediately before plant-
ing cut, hold off for a day or
two. Like all members of the
squash family, one or two cold
days experienced in the first two

weeks of planting out can set the
plants back by weeks, if not kill
them off outright.

Harden plants off by leaving
them out for the day and in for
the nights over the week prior to
planting.

MARLENA STEINGART (left) and Cora Jardeteza of North Van’s Grower Direct Fresh Cut
Flowers show their wares at Business After Business at the International Plaza Hotel last week.
The get-together gave businesses the chance to display theiz goods and meet with other Norih

Shore business owners.

.

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