Search Results
48 items found for ""
Blog Posts (21)
- We're growing Seminole Pumpkins again!
Guess who's back? Back again! Seminole Pumpkins, that's who! What on earth is a Seminole Pumpkin you may ask? Seminole pumpkins are a type of pumpkin native to Florida, particularly associated with the Seminole tribe, from which they take their name. These pumpkins are renowned for their resilience and adaptability to various growing conditions. They have a long history of cultivation by Native American tribes in Florida and were traditionally grown in the region for their nutritious flesh and seeds. Seminole pumpkins are known for their vine-like growth habit, which allows them to spread across large areas. They have a tough outer skin, making them resistant to pests and diseases, and they can be stored for extended periods. Seminole pumpkins are often used in cooking and can be roasted, baked, or used in soups and stews. They are prized for their sweet flavor and dense, creamy texture. Additionally, Seminole pumpkins are valued for their nutritional content, as they are rich in vitamins A and C, as well as fiber. Also, they are super super delicious, and we use them for everything here on our Homestead, where you'd typically use Pumpkins or Squash! Let me tell you our Story of Seminole Pumpkins. It began as an idea around our dinner table really when we ate pumpkin pie that was less than... say, we shall stellar. With a little research we soon found that the ideal pumpkin for Florida does exist and soon we found ourselves hunting down legit seeds. Etsy to the rescue! Upon their arrival, we planted 2 seeds; after all, we wanted to see how it did first and if the location we picked would work well. Fast forward about 3 months and we had Pumpkins everywhere! And I mean EVERYWHERE! We harvested 400lbs of Pumpkins from two single seeds over the entire season. If you are a Seminole Pumpkin lover, you may say to yourself, "But Mel, this doesn't look like a Seminole Pumpkin!" We questioned that for about 5 solid minutes as well but come to find out, Seminole Pumpkins come in all kinds of shapes. (You can read more about "The Seminole Pumpkin Project" done by David the Good, the Survival Gardener.) We happen to end up with a very prolific, delicious, long-neck variety. How do you grow Seminole Pumpkins? Growing Seminole pumpkins is relatively straightforward, and they are well-suited to a variety of growing conditions. Here's a basic guide to growing Seminole pumpkins: Climate and Soil: Seminole pumpkins thrive in warm climates, particularly in regions with long growing seasons. They prefer full sun and well-draining soil. They are known for their tolerance to various soil types, including sandy, loamy, and clay soils. However, soil that is rich in organic matter and slightly acidic to neutral pH is ideal. Planting: Start by selecting a suitable location for planting. Ensure there's enough space for the vines to spread, as Seminole pumpkins can be quite vigorous - they will go ANYWHERE!! Plant seeds directly into the ground after the last frost date in your area. Sow the seeds about 1 inch deep and 3 to 4 feet apart in rows or mounds. You can also start seeds indoors 3-4 weeks before the last frost date and transplant the seedlings outdoors once the soil has warmed up and there is no risk of frost. Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, especially during the germination and fruiting stages. Water deeply to encourage strong root growth. When you grow these in Florida though, you can pretty much ignore that because our strong rainy season takes care of everything. Mulching around the base of the plants can help retain soil moisture and suppress weeds. Fertilization: Seminole pumpkins are not heavy feeders but will benefit from occasional fertilization. Use a balanced fertilizer or compost at planting time and side-dress with compost or aged manure during the growing season. When we planted ours, we just put some compost in the holes, put the seeds on top, and covered them with dirt. We did not Fertilize them at all. Support and Spacing: While Seminole pumpkins can sprawl along the ground, providing support such as trellises or fences can help save space and keep the fruits off the ground, reducing the risk of rotting. If you're growing them in rows, space the plants about 8 to 12 feet apart to allow for ample spreading. (We chaos garden and so the distance between the two seeds was more like 2 feet LOL) Pest and Disease Management: Seminole pumpkins are generally resistant to pests and diseases, but regular monitoring is still necessary. Handpick any pests you see, and treat any issues promptly. Ours had ZERO issues aside from one late in the season that got chewed on by a rodent or pecked by one of the chickens! Harvesting: Seminole pumpkins are typically ready for harvest 90 to 110 days after planting, depending on growing conditions. Harvest pumpkins when the vines start to die back and the skin has hardened to a deep orange color. Cut the pumpkins from the vine, leaving a few inches of stem attached. Store harvested pumpkins in a cool, dry place for several weeks to cure before using them. We did this and we still have about 30 Pumpkins in the pantry doing just fine :) All instructions aside, they are incredibly easy to grow and will run to wherever you let them. Every vine will have little tendrils and will hold onto whatever it can grab to secure itself to the ground. Ours didn't die over the winter and is back with new determination to take over the yard. Have at it Buddy, we're here for it! If you find yourself in an abundance situation, check out one of our favorite recipes which is nothing short of amazing!
- This week on our Homestead - June 11, 2024
I am already over summer, and it has barely started! The heat and humidity have been brutal, the Gnats are relentless, and in spite of every forthcoming rain predictions, it's bone dry outside. But such is Homestead life; the livestock doesn't care how hot it is, and with that, onward and forward in our week. Our week started off with adding two new family members to our Homestead, so say hello to two rescue Beardies. They are joining our family permanently! On the left is Daisy, a 1 1/2-year-old Bearded Dragon female, and on the right is Willow, also a 1 1/2-year-old female. Since we had two empty Zen habitats, they each got their own new luxury apartment ;) Next up this week was dealing with the heat and our animals. In addition to offering frozen and refrigerated fruit this week, we've also offered a Baby pool with fresh cool water which no one was really interested although to their Credit, at least the Turkeys tried LOL No worries though, our Flock is well taken care of and their runs are all in the shade for this precise reason and with that a lot cooler than in direct sunlight making it very bearable back there. Speaking of Turkeys, they've decided this week they needed a night out, and instead of sleeping in their coop flew on top of one of our sheds and remained the entire night. They were very happy to see us the following morning and followed us right back into their run! Thanks to the Turkeys pulling that little stunt, we didn't get to miss our "Queen of the Night" blooming this year and we were rewarded with seven blossoms and quite a show! The "Queen of the Night" flower refers to several types of night-blooming flowers known for their beauty and rarity. The most famous among them is the Epiphyllum oxypetalum, a species of cactus native to Central and South America. Here are some key characteristics: Queen of the Night (Epiphyllum oxypetalum): Night Bloomer: This flower typically blooms at night, usually only once a year, and its bloom lasts for just a few hours. Large and Fragrant: The flowers are large, white, and highly fragrant, making them a spectacular sight and scent. Epiphytic Nature: It is an epiphyte, meaning it grows on other plants, often on trees, deriving its nutrients and moisture from the air and rain. Succulent Stems: The plant has long, flat, succulent stems that can grow quite large. Symbolism: The flower is often associated with beauty and fleeting moments due to its brief blooming period. Other flowers, sometimes referred to as "Queen of the Night," include varieties of night-blooming cereus and night-blooming jasmine, but Epiphyllum oxypetalum is the most well-known. Pretty neat right? We were thrilled we didn't miss it this year as last year we were too late! Speaking of plants... we are nearly done with the greenhouse after getting more shelving AND new irrigation. As much as I loved the irrigation system that came with it, I couldn't for the life of me find more irrigation tubes with nozzles that would mirror the existing size and we ended up purchasing a new one so that i can water on both sides of the greenhouse. We also potted Mulberry cuttings and they were promptly sold! YAY the Homestead made some money!! Last but not least, the Bee Inspector came this week. We were very excited about this since it's been a good two months since we had our bees. Florida has a Honey Bee protection law that aims to ensure the health and sustainability of honeybee populations, recognizing their critical role in agriculture and the environment. The state seeks to create a supportive environment for both bees and beekeepers because of that. The Inspector came and looked at our Bees, made sure they were healthy, checked out the hive, and assured that the bees were in a spot where the general public couldn't just walk up to it and bother the bees. The inspector was very nice, answered all of our questions, offered himself as a point of contact if we needed anything and we passed with flying colors! We installed a "shade thrower" last week, so during the heat, the bees have some shade thrown on their hive. It seems to be working well! And that's all for this week! See ya'll next week :)
- This week on our Homestead - June 3, 2024
YAY, we got a break in the weather for a few days, and what better time to add more projects than when you're already overflowing with them so, I bought a Greenhouse! This one to be precise: So how my marriage works is, I design everything, purchase the materials, and at that point pop the cork off the Genie Bottle, and Chris pops out asking: "What do you need me to build, Babe?" LOL This was no exception, and my hubby sprang into action. We had to decide on a location. Because Florida gets super hot in the summer, putting a Greenhouse in the direct sun is a death sentence as far as I am concerned, and it would probably cook your plants in their pots. We opted to put ours in dappled sunlight where it gets more sun in the winter months but more shade in the summer. Chris had to level the ground and put down landscaping fabric unless I wanted to bring the dreaded wild vines into the greenhouse and have them take over. Next up were the Greenhouse bones and the included irrigation system and last but not least, the tarp. Our greenhouse has eight windows and two full-vented screened doors that you can all close or open as needed. The greenhouse itself went up really quickly. Chris hooked up the irrigation to a timer so that I didn't have to worry about forgetting to shut it back off and we moved some plants inside. At that point we called it a day. Yesterday, we went to Home Depot and picked up some shelves. We added those to the greenhouse and promptly populated them. Unfortunately, that's about all we got done because at that point, the weather got brutal, with a heat index over 103F every day and high humidity! There's always next week though..
Other Pages (8)
- CONTACT | On our Own Homestead
Get in Touch With Us As Homesteaders, we work a lot of hours, and the easiest way to get a hold of us is to message us below or send us an email at onourownhomestead@gmail.com and we'll get back to you as soon as possible! Send Us a Message Stay Connected Want to stay updated on our latest products and homesteading tips? Follow us on social media or sign up for our newsletter! First Name Last Name Email Phone Leave me a message... Subscribe Thank You for Subscribing!
- Meet our Animals | On our Own Homestead
Our Animals Meet the Homestead Family Our Turkeys Write a bio for each team member. Make it short and informative to keep your visitors engaged. Ashley Jones Tech Lead Write a bio for each team member. Make it short and informative to keep your visitors engaged. 123-456-7890 info@mysite.com Tess Brown Office Manager Write a bio for each team member. Make it short and informative to keep your visitors engaged. 123-456-7890 info@mysite.com Lisa Rose Product Manager Write a bio for each team member. Make it short and informative to keep your visitors engaged. 123-456-7890 info@mysite.com
- GIFT CARD | On our Own Homestead
eGift Card $25 You can't go wrong with a gift card. Choose an amount and write a personalized message to make this gift your own. ... Read more Amount $25 $50 $100 $150 $200 Other amount Quantity Buy Now