Pumpkins growing in my compost

HikerBride07

Our compost pile has been located in a not so good spot with little sun but it was the most convenient spot for it when we first built it.  So last Fall we threw our Halloween pumpkins into our compost pile (my husband also does not turn it regularly :-/) and this Spring pumpkin plants started growing in it.  We let the plants grow, kind of out of curiosity because we didn't know what they were at first and we planned on building a nicer, two bin system in a better location.  So now we have our new compost system and our old pile has several nice pumpkins growing in it.  However, now disgusting stink bugs have killed about half of the plants.  So my question is, should I pull the pumpkins off and let them continue to ripen in the sun or leave them alone on partially dead plants and hope they keep growing?  Also, do you think they'd be fine to eat?

Hey Jellisy

I read recently you can eat squash at any stage of ripeness.  It might not be as sweet, but it will definitely be safe to eat.  When we grew butternut squash a few years ago, the vine grew about a 100 ft and then just died.  We left some of the squash on the dying vine to finish ripening and it was fine.  Are the bugs attacking the plant or the fruit?  If ti's just the plant, I would leave the pumpkins on the vine to ripen.  Even if they are only getting a little more energy from the vine, it's better than no energy. 

believeown

ccc

 

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