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Minnesota(dw447@fastmail.fm)

I'm wondering how you folks do this. In the past, I've the cut the giant pumpkins up into chunks(about 2'X 2' pieces, or smaller), and spread them out over the garden plot(in the fall), where next year's pumpkins will be grown. The next spring, I till the remnants in.

Any better methods available? Do you think the pumpkin flesh is a good source of nutrients for next year's plants/pumpkins?

10/29/2015 8:39:22 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

That's what I do, as long as the fruit itself has no disease issues. The deer eat a lot, especially after it has frozen, but they leave their brand of fertilizer. They don't eat as much if you throw some cow manure and compost on top. I always figure that it has just the nutrients that you need to grow another pumpkin. Some gets chopped up and mixed with leaves and grass clippings in the compost pile for use the next year. All the pumpkin leaves and vines get hauled out.

10/29/2015 9:41:27 PM

BC, Canada

I put a lot in the chicken run. It is amazing how much they will eat. They like the seeds and flesh. I just had a batch of meat birds that were eating it for a couple of weeks before I booked their winter holiday. Anxious to find out if they taste any different. I know hogs and cows will eat some. And of course they turn it into fertilizer for me. What they don't eat goes into a large mixed compost pile and by the following spring it all looks like great compost.

10/29/2015 11:22:04 PM

Johnston, Iowa

I chop it up and add it to my compost pile

10/30/2015 12:28:30 PM

Ely Mn

That's what I do Doug.works great!

10/30/2015 6:39:56 PM

Muddy Waters

I like to compost everything,I think thats best to be safe.

10/31/2015 6:47:30 AM

Muddy Waters

I guess it depends where you live.If I lived in Tennessee where its a little warmer I might do that.In Michigan raw materials dont get much time to breakdown as our temps from December to March are to cold.The stuff just sets frozen all winter.I dont see that big of a window for it to compost.If it doesnt breakdown by spring? Your nutrients will tied up to do so in the spring early summer,which could slow down your plant growth in May.Just my opinion,NOT Gospel by any means.

10/31/2015 7:02:47 AM

Minnesota(dw447@fastmail.fm)

Thanks for the replies. I think composting would likely be the best route, but chopping it up and spreading it over the patch is less work IMO. I haven't tried maintaining a compost pile through the winter. I'll likely spread the pumpkin over the patch again, and see how well it breaks down/dehyrates by spring.

11/7/2015 8:39:45 PM