Unintentional Pumpkin Patch

In the fall of 2023 I purchased a pumpkin and carved a jack-o-lantern in the front yard. It didn’t occur to me that seeds discarded there might sprout within the lawn grass. I mowed down a few young plants in the spring of 2024 and thought nothing more of it.

This season, however, a single plant sprouted. Since mass produced pumpkins are hybrids, most of its energy went into growing foliage, ultimately about twelve feet of vines end to end. It was so beautiful I decided to see what would happen.

A total of eight small gourds came as a complete surprise. I enjoyed getting silly with them.

Should I try roasting the seeds? Or maybe even roasting the shells to see if the insides are good eating?

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