So, what are you going to do with your leftover Halloween pumpkins?

If you are like most gardeners, you won’t want to just throw them in the trash for a trip to the landfill. Also, throwing them in the compost pile might attract more critters than you want.

Pumpkins decompose quickly and enrich the soil so you can simply cut them in pieces and bury them. Or, for a cute planter you can put some annuals in them. They will look nice for several days and then you can plant them in the ground, pumpkin and all.

Pumpkins are also good for you. They are rich in antioxidants and the seeds are high in protein and lower your bad cholesterol. So, here are a few yummy things you can do in the kitchen with pumpkins.

Let’s start with the seeds. They are easy to roast. First, wash them in the colander and spread them out in a baking sheet. Dry overnight. Drizzle with a little olive oil and toss around to coat. Lightly salt them, if desired. Bake at 250 degrees for an hour and enjoy.

You can also make purée and use pumpkin in your favorite recipes for bread, pie, muffins or anything that you use canned pumpkin for.

Cut the pumpkin in half and cut each half into three or four pieces. Bake at 350 degrees for an hour. Peel the skin off, this is easy to do after baking, then put the pieces into a blender or food processor and purée.

You can use the purée immediately or freeze it for later use.

Now for the best part. For a sweet treat, make pumpkin candy. After you remove the guts and seeds (remember you can roast the seeds), cut the pumpkin into pieces and carefully cut the skin off. Then cut into bite size pieces. Put the pieces into a pot and add just enough water to cover. Cover the pot and bring to a boil. After the pumpkin pieces begin to soften, add a cup of brown sugar along with the desired amount of spices such as cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves. Cover and continue to boil until the sugar forms a syrup.

Allow the candy to soak in the syrup overnight then place on a wire rack to dry. If the candies are not sweet enough for you, sprinkle with additional sugar.

Work saving tips

• Allow spent flowers to stay where they are. Some seed heads are attractive and will provide food for wildlife. Many plants will form seeds that will sprout like magic next spring.

• Leave a few dead stems of spreading and vining perennials to serve as winter protection for the crown and roots of the plant. You will also be providing a protective cover for birds, lady bugs, pollinating bees, praying mantids and other beneficials.

Email your questions or comments to me at newsroom@natchezdemocrat.com.

 

Karen O’Neal writes a monthly gardening column. She is an Adams County Master Gardener.