Growing a Great Pumpkin: A Crash Course, Live from the Pumpkin Patch

***See you next year!***
-We've reached the end of pumpkin season. The vines have stopped growing (pretty much), the leaves are turning brown, and the pumpkins are orange and ready for a front porch. So I won't be offering any more sections of this class in 2020, but I plan to offer it again next August-September. I hope you'll join me then!



Hello, pumpkin lovers! Get an up close and personal look at a real pumpkin patch. Join me for a crash course on all things pumpkins. I'll be showing you my pumpkin plants, and we will learn all about pumpkin growth, maintenance, and all the critters that make a pumpkin grower's life difficult! I love pumpkins, and I especially love growing them. This is my sixth year growing pumpkins in my backyard in the city, and this time, I'm sharing the journey with you.

The topics discussed will include as much of the following as possible:
The Good Stuff
*Flowers! Pumpkins have two kinds of flowers, and both are SO important, that a pumpkin can't grow without them.
*Bees! Bees love the pumpkin flowers. Morning classes can watch them pollinate! I'll also tell you how I once saved a bee from a pumpkin flower. True story.
*Leaves! Different varieties of pumpkin plants have different shaped leaves, and we'll compare them. I'm growing two types of pumpkins this year.
*Pumpkins! Obviously we'll talk about the pumpkins themselves!

The Bad Stuff
*Pests! Pumpkin plants are prone to some nasty critters, namely the squash vine borer and squash bugs. We'll look for their eggs, the bugs themselves, and even their poop. Eww!
*Leaf Wilt! Sometimes vines attacked by pests will have wilting leaves as a result. It's tragic, really. (Or maybe the plant just needs some water!)
*Dead Pumpkins! Sometimes a pumpkin simply won't grow and falls off the vine. We will have a moment of silence for it.
*Dead Vines! Unfortunately, I've seen this happen. Many different factors can cause the entire plant to die.

During class, we will be applying our new pumpkin knowledge to answer the questions on the handout provided. Then, we will see what you remember with a Kahoot quiz! By the time class is over, you'll be so full of pumpkin info, your head will be as big as a pumpkin! After class, you will receive a personalized certificate, naming you a pumpkin expert. Also included are three teacher created pumpkin activities for you to really show off your creativity and personality. All of these activities will be posted in the classroom.

Because we are dealing with live pumpkin plants and the season well underway, this class is only available for a short time. But as long as the pumpkins are still going strong, I'll offer more sections. The ultimate goal for this class is to share my love of pumpkins, teach you a thing or two I've learned about growing them, and maybe inspire you to grow your own! So bring your sunscreen and your pumpkin questions, and we'll spend some quality time in the pumpkin patch!

You can also join me in the pumpkin patch in my on-going class, which meets every Tuesday, 10 AM, EST until mid-September. Check my class listing for more information!

Fun Fact: The image for this course is made from several pictures of one of my pumpkins from a previous year. I like to take pictures of the same pumpkin at the same angle as it grows.

My Super-Important Disclaimer:
*Please be aware, my pumpkin vines are showing the affects of bugs, though I do have a few new pumpkins growing (with one starting around 8/25!). However, this is an important lesson for any potential pumpkin growers out there. It's harder to grow pumpkins than you think! When dealing with Mother Nature, sometimes she has other plans.
*Also, keep in mind, this is only my backyard, after all, so don't expect a field full of plants!
*IF IT RAINS, WE WILL STILL MEET, just not in the pumpkin patch. We can still complete our activities inside and use pictures instead of the real thing. However, because you're not getting the full experience, I will honor a partial refund (30%) at the end of class for any section this affects.

Questions? Please ask!
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Teacher Lauren's Attendance Policy: Unless otherwise noted, this class will remain open up until the start time and will proceed as planned if there is at least one student enrolled. If you sign up within 24 hours, you are agreeing to the possibility of being the only student in the class.