Pumkins Sprouting

A few weeks ago had I asked my husband "if you could have anything planted in the garden, what would you pick?" and pumpkins were in his top 3, and they were the only thing I hadn't planned on growing because they take so much space.  Knowing that he likes odd things as much as I do, I ordered some huge and extremely warty pumpkins.  They're a salmon-skinned french heirloom called Galeux d'Eysines, and have a sweet velvety flesh.  There was ONE more empty spot in the backyard, so this will be the last thing added to the garden.  Well, I'll say that now, but we all know I'll manage to fit more in somewhere later!

The pumpkins sprouted this weekend!  
They look so small and innocent now, but just you wait...

I've heard winter squash like to be planted 2-3 (thinned from 5-6) on mounds so they can sprawl, so I fashioned a pile from much of the leftover compost and soil from the raised beds, and used some of my husband's stones to keep the mound propped away from the porch.  The mounds are supposed to be 3 feet in diameter, but, er, this is only about 2.5 feet long and 1.5 feet wide.  We'll see how it goes!  I'm going to cover them with mason jars at night for now to protect them from the inevitable wave of ravenous slugs.  I'd love to get a few wicked-looking warty pumpkins to carve and cook with in October.  <3