Pumpkin cross - "how to" pictorial

While I was doing a controlled cross yesterday of two pumpkins, I thought it would be fun to take pictures and make a "how to" pictorial. Hope you enjoy!

Tomatoes

Still not rotten after 5 or 6 months!
These were picked green probably in October. The quality has really gone down (squishy and pale) but I'm still amazed any have lasted this long. (In the basement at room temperature)

Even more impressive storage

As impressive as the tomatoes have been, the 'Seminole' pumpkins have them beat. I harvested these around October 2017! So, after a year and several months, it's just amazing to me that they're still okay. I will admit that they're not as sweet after such extended storage time, but otherwise they're certainly acceptable for cooking. I noticed as I cut them, that a wax was noticeable along the cuts. I scratched some up with my fingernail to see how easily it might be collected. I'll bet this wax is one of the main reasons why these pumpkins stay so fresh for so long.

Even with the sugars having been used up, they seem to have full coloration (beta carotene), and should still be good dietary source of potassium and fiber.

Still have 2018 harvested tomatoes ripening in the basement.

Still have some 2018 harvested 'Yellow Pear' tomatoes ripening in the basement. They're a little pale and squishy but still impressive for having been picked green over three months ago.

Tomatoes still

Haven't blogged anything in a while, but had to show off these Yellow Pear tomatoes ripening from being picked green waaaaaay back before frost killed the plants. It's so cool to have homegrown tomatoes in January (in Maryland) even if they aren't "vine-ripened". :)

Peppers still holding on

Got the peppers out for another aphid-blasting hose shower. The seven I started with has been reduced to six. The one on the far right looks like it might also not make it. But I'll still be happy to get the five remaining ones replanted for seed production this coming summer.

First flowers of Spring 2018

The temperature got above 80 F yesterday and didn't get below 50 F. Today was a contrasting high in the lower 40's. Crazy weather!
But yesterday I saw these flowers (crocus and winter flowering jasmine) announcing that Spring will soon be here for real.