Own your own veg - writing names on pumpkins

I'm slightly concerned.  It's only July and already the pumpkin patch is getting a bit feisty.  My fledgling yew hedge is fast being swamped and the new growth keeps veering onto the paths in the manner of a London cyclist.

Despite their dominance, I'm a big fan of pumpkins.  If you have the room, there is almost nothing as impressive to young children - well in veg terms at least - I'm not sure they could actually compete with, say, drinking orange juice through your nose or farting the national anthem. 

This year there is the added excitement of not quite knowing what to expect as we planted a packet of mixed varieties from Victoriana Nursery Gardens.

One particularly energetic green specimen has already thrown up 4 or 5 melon-sized fruit so I took the children out this morning for a spot of pumpkin scribbling.

Using an old ballpoint pen, you can write names on the pumpkins - the pen shape stops it going deeper than two or three millimetres and harming the fruit.  The damaged skin will then form a scar tissue in the shape of the name - and, for added dramatic effect, this will also expand as the pumpkin grows - a sort of organic graffiti. 

This kind of penmanship gives children a real sense of ownership of the fruit.  It will always be the first thing they rush out to check in the veg patch and is likely to be lavished with care and attention.  Now, if only I could find a way of labelling the peas and tomatoes...

Comments

[Nigel]

You can almost see pumpkins grow, which must delight the kids.

Writing on them is a lovely idea, as long as they understand the difference between writing on a pumpkin - which is temporary - and carving initials on permanent things like tree trunks and agave leaves in public places.

[Avis]

How will the kids react when their very own pumpkins become pies? ;-)
Cheers!

[Marisa]

Great idea!

[Tatyana]

What an interesting idea! My pumpkins are also growing wild. Unfortunately, there are no good-size fruit yet. I heard about pinching the tops and removing extra flowers to let the plant care about several good fruit.
Thank you for leaving a nice comment on my pink &purple post, it made me laugh!

[Dawn Isaac]

Nigel - I am now worried I have fanned the flame of vandalism in the hearts of my children. I'm sure the judge will bring this post up as evidence in their future trials.

Avis - I would have to learn to make pies first, so not an issue likely to arise for a while.

Marisa - thanks - and thanks for visiting the blog

Tatyana - I've pinched nothing as yet - which may account for the pumpkins rapidly taking over the whole garden. Will add this to the ever-growing to-do list. Dx