Origins of the Seminole Pumpkin
The heirloom magic of the Seminole pumpkin dates to before European exploration of the North America. The Calusa, Miccosukee and Creek people had refined their technique or agroforesty, by growing this plant up dead and dying trees to relieve rot and animal foraging pressure. William Bartram’s Botanical travels through the southeast in the late 1700 tells us about the wild gourds hanging from trees over water ways. Bartram reported that it was the Seminole’s favorite fruit, and it was the best flavored flesh of any pumpkin he had every tasted. Bartram was gifted a pumpkin from the Seminoles and was successfully able to grow it in his garden.
Growing Seminole Pumpkins
These same fruit were the ancestors of the Seminole pumpkin, a variably shaped, vigorous, sweet, robust and insect resistant pumpkin adapted particularly to the hot, humid, high insect pressure of the southeast but equally amenable to the warm northern garden, Needing from 90 to 120 days to mature in frost free conditions. We are able to get both a spring and a fall crop, here in North Florida.
Feeding your Seminole Pumpkins
I let my food scrap compost jar ferment for a few days. When it starts smelling, I know it is ready to bury, two feet in the ground. This depth discourages raccoons from digging up the pile. As the food scraps further decay it provides a rich source of nutrients for the pumpkins to tap into for the season. Next I plant some seeds above the buried compost. A good water a couple times a week and we are set to go. Normally summer rains provide all the water it needs, but I do occasionally extend the water hose. Vines can be very vigorous and sometimes are over 30 feet long. The deer will occasionally forage on the leaves and flowers. The flowers and young pumpkins are edible, so are the leaves after removing the strings and a good cook in the saucepan. Young pumpkins can be eaten like summer squash and when the pumpkins have a chance to cure they store well at room temperature for months. Overall it generously rewards the grower with delicious and easy to grow fruit. A must have for all gardeners.
Finding Seminole Pumpkin Seeds
Below are links to get your Seminole Pumpkin Seeds
