Pumpkin 'Bev's Gramma Trombone' (Organic)

Product Information

Originally cultivated by her grandmother in Moonta, York Peninsula, during the early 1900s, this unique pumpkin is an essential component of authentic Cornish Pasties. Bev’s grandmother, proudly of Cornish heritage, always insisted, “You never use pumpkin in pasties—only Trombone!” The seeds were passed from generation to generation—from Bev’s grandmother to her mother, and now to Bev, who was born in 1946. After struggling to find these rare seeds, Bev planted the last four she had, praying for just one big pumpkin to save seeds from. Two huge ones grew from the huge sprawling plants that were roaming around her backyard. She took one down to her local church group for sharing, but then had a bad car accident where she broke her back. The church said she wouldn’t cut the pumpkin until Bev got better, so 12 months later they cut it and saved the seeds. Bev kindly donated some of her seeds with us to preserve and make available to Diggers members.

Pumpkins are the easiest of the curcubits to grow, they are big feeders, so dig in plenty of well rotted manure where they are to grow. They germinate easily in warm soil, gardeners in cooler areas can start their seedlings in pots in a warm spot and plant out after risk of frost has passed. Pumpkins need plenty of water as they grow, mulch well to conserve moisture and eliminate weeds. Harvest pumpkins when the stalk attaching it to the vine turns woody and corky. Cut (not tear) the stalk from the plant. Never lift the pumpkin by this 'handle' as if it breaks off the pumpkin will go mouldy within day