This was a warty field pumpkin... This variety has a hard outer shell that helps it last longer without rotting. Its probably frustrating to carve but its good winter animal food.
My sheep love pumpkins... a bit too much. They are my fellow pumpkin addicts.
I think when we had goats they were less enamoured with pumpkins. But I dont remember how many pumpkins I offered them, that was quite awhile ago.
It will may be difficult to choose a seed lineup this year. The only 2025 seed I was really considering was RonB.'s white one. I have a lot of great pre 2025 seeds that deserve to see dirt, and I think a few will. Final selection will reduce it down to one plant!
Growing really BIG this year, hopefully.
PS Brad Bahns? lost a nice white Blossom Down pumpkin last year @ about 800 lbs. I guess they don't all make it.
Dedicating this year to Brad.
I spread a cube of fine wood shavings (animal bedding from pine wood) on the patch just to give the worms and fungal life something to do... It could rob some nutrients for a few months, but it will improve the soil health in the long run I think. This is what one cube spread over 1,000 sq ft looks like. The correct amount (if this is even a good idea) would stimulate the soil rather than overwhelming and thereby altering the soil. Trying to respect the axiom that less is often more.
Plus I'm trying to suppress disease and I think my regular mulch won't do that. But straw and conifer mulch may help with this.