I'm cooking pie pumpkins today ...

dave1949 · Sep 25, 2009

Bird said:
You're doing it just the way my wife does, except she cuts them into smaller pieces and cooks them in the microwave instead of baking in the big oven, then removes the skin or shell before freezing.

Hi Bird,

I never thought about the microwave, cut up I bet it doesn't take to long.
Dave.

Bird · Sep 25, 2009

Yeah, Dave, of course the length of time depends on how much you put in there at a time, but it doesn't take long. She said she just cooks it awhile, then checks to see when it's soft and easy to remove from the peel.

dave1949 · Sep 25, 2009

Thanks Bird,

I think I'll try the microwave if more get ripe. Down to 37 now and frost is forecast tonight. I have some on the edge of being ready, but they could use another week or so.

Dave.

Bird · Sep 25, 2009

I wish we'd get a frost, so maybe I wouldn't have to keep mowing my yard every 4 or 5 days.

dave1949 · Sep 25, 2009

Bird said:
I wish we'd get a frost, so maybe I wouldn't have to keep mowing my yard every 4 or 5 days.

What is your usual first date? I think the usual here would be 2nd week of September, we are actually late this year.

I like frost too, it knocks down some of the bugs. We have mosquitos still and pesky gnats that love to crawl under a sweaty head band and bite.

Dave.

Bird · Sep 25, 2009

Of course it can vary, but I think our first frost is usually mid-November. For many years, we used to go to Port Aransas the Saturday before Thanksgiving. A week before that (second Saturday before Thanksgiving) was when I mowed the yard for the last time for the year and turned off the water to the outside hydrants. According to the NWS, it got down to 49 in the area this morning, although my thermometer only got down to 56. I might not have to mow as frequently, but I expect to have to keep mowing the yard until nearly Thanksgiving, and maybe even after Thanksgiving.

polo1665 · Sep 26, 2009

nmu98 said:
But that is mostly the correct answer. Also, some of the best pumpkins used for cooking are actually squash types. They are smaller 4 to 10 pound pumpkins.

The most popular kind of baking pumpkins is small pie or 都ugar pumpkin. The flesh is oranger and sweeter than carving pumpkins.

That's the answer I was looking for

I would like to grow some next year, just wondered what kind to look for. Thanks for the info.

Mark

dave1949 · Sep 26, 2009

Morning Bird,

Well, I will be plowing snow while you mow in late November probably. Hard to say when the first snow deep enough to clear comes, but around that time is normal.

We did have our first frost this morning, 27 deg. I guess summer is over

I know what you mean about fall mowing, just when will it end

is what I always wondered. Here, I just mow a small area (about 30' x 60') in front of the house. The rest gets hit with the bush hog once a year.

Dave.

Bird · Sep 26, 2009

Dave, your 27 degrees is a bit different from our (official) 57, although my own thermometer didn't get below 62 this morning. It got up to 80 yesterday, forecast for 89 today and 94 tomorrow.