Just in time for autumn, a decorative plant that is hundreds of years old has fruits that look like little pumpkins.
The little “pumpkins” look great in fall arrangements and can also be used in cooking. Katherine Rowe, a gardening expert, talks about these unique plants that will make fall more beautiful.
People grow pumpkin-on-a-stick for its pretty little pumpkin-shaped fruit that grows along the woody stems.
This little pumpkin looks like a fall gourd, but it is actually an aubergine! It is pretty to look at and you can eat it, especially when it is still young and has a mild, peppery flavour.
These little “pumpkin” eggplants look like squatty green tomatoes when they are young, which is a bit of a problem. Late summer and autumn are fun and interesting times to see the odd ornamental plants.
Since it is pumpkin season, you might want to add one more to your yard to finish off your fall decorations. They are also great for teaching people how to grow.
What is Pumpkin-on-a-Stick?
These little eggplants are in the Solanaceae family, which also includes tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, and many more. They come from Africa and are related to wild species.
They spread through trade and colonisation in Africa and Asia. Solanum aethiopicum came to the U.S. in the late 1800s and is known for its unique flower.
The eggs are tasty when they are young and green, with a mild flavour. They are often used in stir-fries and are also known as mock tomato, pumpkin tree and red aubergine. As they get riper and reach the red state, they become more bitter.
For interest in the show bed, mix the ornamentals with perennials and annuals that bloom in the summer. Marigolds are pretty plants that keep bugs away. They will spice up the arrangement and choice in the herb and veggie garden if you add them.
The globes can be used to make fresh flower arrangements or left to dry to be used for years. Stems that have just been cut can stay in a vase for two to four weeks. Or, pick out individual fruits to show off.
Pick the branches and hang them up somewhere cool and dry, out of direct sunlight, until the stems and leaves are fully dry. They will dry on the plant in warm, dry places.
Characteristics
Fruits start out green and short, but as they turn to red and then deep orange, they get ribs. Each egg is between 2 and 5 inches across.
The plants look like eggplants; they get two to three feet wide and have dark, straight roots that are made of wood. The big leaves are a blue-green colour. Thick purple thorns grow on the branches and along the midribs of the stems and leaves.
From July to September, tiny groups of starry, purple-white flowers show up, which eventually turn into fruit in time for autumn. Each cluster generally has two to three fruits grow from it.
Pumpkin on a stick does not need much care and does not have many problems, but it can get bugs and diseases that affect nightshades.
Even though the nasty thorns keep most animals away, a hungry rabbit might still eat the bright fruit. But what is cuter than a rabbit eating a small pumpkin?
Native Area
Aethiopicum probably comes from West Africa, where it grows well in warm, tropical weather. Since they are tropical, they can not handle cold weather. They only grow in woodland savannas with dirt that drains well. They can not handle being wet.
These plants are tender perennials where they are hardy (USDA zones 10–12), but they grow as warm-season annuals where they are not hardy.
Planting
The needs of pumpkin-on-a-stick are the same as those of other eggplants, tomatoes, and peppers. Plant them in the spring so they can grow all summer and bear fruit late in the season.
They can not grow well in cold weather, so they need warm air and dirt to do their best.
They grow quickly from seeds. Seedlings are ready to go outside a week or two after the last frost and as long as the temperature at night is above 55°F (13°C). When the weather gets warmer in the summer, plants grow quickly.
If you can, put your nightshades somewhere you have not grown them in the last year. Nightshades can spread diseases to other plants in the same family, and switching crops can help stop the spread of any fungus or bacteria that is still in the soil.
Plant plants two to three feet apart so that air can flow freely. Once the heavy fruits have set, the stems may need to be staked to keep them upright.
You could also use a tomato cage when you put the plant in the ground. Staking makes the decorations stand out.
Transplanting
When there is no frost and the weather is warm in the spring, seedlings that were started indoors do better after a period of “hardening off.” The tender plants can get used to growing conditions after being outside for seven to ten days.
Take the plants outside and put them somewhere safe, away from the afternoon sun and wind. Moving them slowly to conditions that are like their new yard spot will help the new plants grow stronger.
How to Grow
Growing pumpkin on a stick is easy as long as you give it full sun, even wetness, and soil that drains well. It may be hard to remember that it is there until late in the season when it starts to show off.
Light
Aethiopicum needs full sun to bloom and fruit well. It is best to sleep for at least six hours.
It is best to get some morning sun, and in hot southern climates, plants do better when they are protected from full afternoon sun. Fruits and leaves can get burned by the strong noon sun.
Water
Their trees do well with about an inch of water a week. It is best to keep the soil moist by deep watering it often. Water changes can cause problems like flower end rot. Soils that are too wet can make plant diseases worse.
During dry times, check the soil’s moisture level to see if it needs more water. It is time to water if the ground below the top feels dry.
It is best to water plants from the ground up so that the water does not splash on the leaves and cause disease.
You can water the plant by hand at the base, or you can use drip irrigation or soaker hoses to send a steady flow of low-pressure water to the roots. If overhead watering is the best way to water, do it in the morning so the leaves stay dry all day.
Soil
When it comes to dirt, pumpkin on a stick does best in organically rich, loamy soils that drain well. A pH level of between 6.0 and 6.8 is best for this plant. They can grow in poor soils as long as they drain well.
For better soil, add a thick layer of three to six inches of compost to the bed. During the growth season, compost helps with drainage, aeration, keeping water in the soil, and nutrition.
Temperature and Humidity
The late-season grower does very well when it is hot outside. It is best for plants to grow in temperatures between 60°F and 85°F (16°C and 24°C), with starting temperatures above 55°F (13°C) and soil temperatures above 60°F (16°C).
In places with a lot of wetness and rain, make sure air flows by leaving enough space between things. Even though they grow in warm areas, ornamental vegetables can get fungal problems when it is humid and damp.
Fertilizing
Because it makes a lot of fruit and flowers, red aubergine needs extra nutrients to grow strong and flower and fruit well all season. When you grow or care for seedlings, use fish emulsion.
Keep giving them seaweed and bone meal while they are flowering and growing. These changes also give the earth the calcium it needs.
For eggplants, a low-nitrogen fertiliser made for tomatoes that has an NPK ratio like 8-32-16 or 6-24-24 works well.
For fast flowering and good fruiting, it is best to have a higher phosphorous (P) rate and a lower nitrogen (N) amount. If there is too much nitrogen, the plants get lots of leaves, but they do not flower and have other problems.
Maintenance
Pumpkin-on-a-stick does not need much care other than staking the stems that are full of tiny pumpkins.
If you see any broken or cracked stems, cut them off. Cut off any new shoots that appear at the base of the plant to focus energy on the growth that is already there.
Along with meeting basic cultural needs, mulching is an important step that helps keep the soil wet, keep weeds away, and keep the temperature stable. Straw, compost, leaf mulch, bark, or old woodchips that are clean and free of weeds will work.
Propagation
The easiest way to spread this variety is from seed. It can also be grown from seedlings that have roots in water or potting soil, but they do not always have time to grow out before it gets cold.
They are delicate pets, but it is fun to try new things. If you want to root them and grow them inside over the winter, give them a lot of light. If not, they grow quickly and easily if planted in the spring, either indoors or directly outside.
Growing From Seed
The best time to plant seeds is when the dirt is at least 60°F (16°C) warm. It takes about two weeks for seeds to sprout. After 65 to 75 days, they are ready to eat right away. As the weather gets cooler, they start to turn a bright red colour.
Start seeds indoors about six weeks before the last frost date in your area in the spring to get plants growing faster.
Common Problems
The little breeders do not usually have any problems, but they can get common pests and diseases. The best way to control something is to keep cultural standards at their best.
Key parts of general health are regular watering, air flow, healthy soil, and crop rotation. Be careful not to use too much nitrogen, as it makes the plants weak and more likely to get diseases.
Plants that go well with eggplants, like marigolds, catmint, and thyme, will attract good bugs that will help the plants stay healthy.
When using organic and food-safe pest and disease controls, make sure to follow the directions carefully so that you do not hurt healthy plants and animals.
Pests
Scouting them early is the best way to get rid of them. Bugs that like peppers and tomatoes may also like eggplants.
Tomato Hornworm
Hornworms are bugs that look like green leaves and are very hungry. As they get bigger and lose their leaves, they become easier to see.
To get rid of hornworms, pick them off plants by hand and move them away from your aubergine. As hawk moth larvae, they spread pollen in their own area. The home plant for this larva is another nightshade plant.
Usually, just taking off your hands is enough. Some other ways to get rid of the caterpillars are to use neem oil, biological controls of Bacillus thuringiensis, parasitic wasps, or diatomaceous earth.
Aphids
Aphids are common insects that feed on plant sap and do not usually do much harm. But heavy infections stress and weaken plants, resulting in curled leaves and slow growth.
To get rid of aphids, spray plants with water early in the day. This will scare them away and knock them off the roots and leaves.
Aphids are eaten by the good bugs that visit partner plants and help keep them under control. Plants can get rid of pests with a simple gardening soap or oil like neem.
Flea Beetles
Flea beetles are tiny bugs that quickly strip leaves of their coverings as they hop from leaf to leaf. There are many kinds of flea beetles, and some of them are sensitive to nightshades. They are most active in the spring.
Adult flea beetles eat dead cells. They lay their eggs just below the ground, and when the eggs hatch, the maggots eat the soft roots.
The larvae grow into bugs that eat plants as adults. The leaf surfaces get spots of yellow and brown and may even turn into skeletons, leaving only the veins showing.
Plants that keep bugs away, like nasturtium, basil, and marigolds, should be mixed in. Horticultural oils, such as neem, are used in organic therapy.
Putting diatomaceous earth on the leaf surfaces helps keep outbreaks under control. Row cover makes it hard to get to.
Diseases
Eggplants often get a few common diseases, especially when it is very hot outside. Leaves that are spotted, deformed, yellow, or fall off can be a sign of problems, as can slow growth.
Powdery Mildew
A lot of people have problems with powdery mildew. It looks like a grayish-white dust on the stems, buds, and leaves. As the spores spread, they use up food and energy, which is why leaves turn yellow, wilt, and fall off in serious infections.
It is easy to treat the fungus if you find it early, but it does not generally kill pumpkin-on-a-stick. If you can, pick out the damaged leaves by hand. Horticultural oils and soaps can be used to treat early fungal problems before they get bad.
Water at the base of the stems so that you do not splash water on the leaves. Splashing spreads spores and makes the perfect setting for them to grow.
Mosaic Virus
Tobacco and tomato mosaic viruses are two examples of mosaic viruses that can harm nightshades. The leaves get a mosaic pattern of light and dark green spots, and they may curl and warp.
There is no way to treat mosaic viruses. The best thing to do is to find sick plants early and get rid of them. To stop the spread, get rid of any leaves and other debris that have dropped.
Blossom End Rot
Blossom end rot is a physiological disorder that occurs when plants can not receive nutrients, like calcium, and their water levels change. Blossom end rot happens when a cute little “pumpkin” forms and then turns brown and rots at the base.
After bloom end rot, there is a chance for healthy fruits. Fruits that are damaged can not get better, so it is best to cut them off at the stem. But future fruit might not be affected if the earth is evenly moist, full of compost, and properly fertilised.
