Pumpkins

[KTurner]

What do you do with pumpkins that were used for decorating, after you take them down to put up the Christmas decorations? We're trying to roast the seeds right now. We burnt the first batch but they seemed promising. What about the rest of the pumpkin?

Keith

 

[MIKE R]

Throw it in the bush for the deer to eat or rot.

 

[tractchores]

I break them open with the fel and the deer and squirrels eat them. If they're carved its very satisfying to shoot or throw them....

 

[Clint S]

I make pumpkin pie and pumpkin rolls with mine. Save some of the seeds to plant next year.

 

[Pete Judd]

Hogs and chickens will eat them up as well. Or as others have said, the deer and other critters will eat them, or add them to the compost pile.

 

[Reyer Farms]

The seeds seasoned up and baked are mighty good almost addictive! The rolls that were already stated are also good!

 

[bcjmmac]

You can eat them the same as any squash. We bake them in the oven, then freeze the flesh in 2 cup portions, which are used for pies, pumpkin pudding, cakes, etc. I keep the seeds from the best examples for the following years crop.

 

[forgeblast]

We shot them. Its a whole lot of fun using lead to make pumpkin pie!

 

[sjerden]

Here's what I did with them last weekend.

Our Mennonite neighbor across the road raises about 10 acres of these every year. I dumped about 3 of these buckets full in the back of the property.

 

[JDgreen227]

I raised pumpkins for the first time this year so my brother's daughter could use them for decorations at the church and reception for her wedding...after they were done I set them out back in the field so the guys who hunt on my property could break them open and use them for deer bait.

 

[bucktaker]

annual Pumpkin shoot at our house we bought 30 more just to have fun with the family to shoot them. with .22 's Slugs, .17 hmr .50 cal ml and 5.62mm .380 .45 it dont matter

 

[sixdogs]

We fed them to cows. Be careful letting them rot where you plan to grow them next year, especially if in a warmer climate. The bacteria and disease issues can overwinter.

 

[yelbike]

I make pumpkin pie and pumpkin rolls with mine. Save some of the seeds to plant next year.

How do you save the seeds? I'm guess not bake or freeze them.

 

[JDgreen227]

How do you save the seeds? I'm guess not bake or freeze them.

As for me, I just wipe the debris off them with an old rag and put them in a shoebox top in a single layer and store in a cool dry place. And Sixdogs is correct..any pumpkins, like squash, should be completely removed along with the vines from your growing spot at the end of the season.

 

[TCJatko]

Pickled pumpkin.

 

[jinman]

I dumped about 3 of these buckets full in the back of the property.

So, you planted a redneck punkin' patch, eh?

 

[sjerden]

So, you planted a redneck punkin' patch, eh?

I'll be checking that spot for pumpkins next summer.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

Shoot 'em. Seriously...

 

[sixdogs]

Just a side note since others mentioned pies....a squash will actually make a better tasting pumpkin pie than a pumpkin.
Wife says buttercup squash is the first choice. It's the one with the "button" on the bottom.
We used to grow both commercially and learned that along the way.

We quit 13 years ago and I still wake up screaming.

 

[Clint S]

Just a side note since others mentioned pies....a squash will actually make a better tasting pumpkin pie than a pumpkin.
Wife says buttercup squash is the first choice. It's the one with the "button" on the bottom.
We used to grow both commercially and learned that along the way.

We quit 13 years ago and I still wake up screaming. Sometimes even about pumpkins.

We had frozen some squash and some pumpkin, got some out and made a pie and a pumpkin roll. When I was done I realized I used the squash. A far as the taste no one was the wiser.

As far as the seeds, remove, clean, dry. After drying I wrap mine in a paper towel. Put in a paper sack andstore in a drawer in the basement.

More than once I have had a pumpkin patch from where I dumped a few in the fall.