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Ct

With all the pesticides we spray to ward off svb's,cucumber beetles and other unwanted pests, is it still safe to eat the seeds or make pies in the very end? Not that I plan on gnawing on a 300 lb pumpkin like a beaver, but just curious.

8/22/2008 3:47:27 PM

Springfield, VT

It depends on what you sprayed on it and how much. If it was grown organically or minimum sprays listed for food crops you should be fine. I haven't tasted any of the pumpkins but I bet they are not very tasty to eat.

8/22/2008 5:06:51 PM

Going Green

I really wouldn't! The effects of pesticides and other sprays will not be seen for months! And you can buy a pumpkin organically gown( or so they say) for $5.00 at the supermarket or a can of pumpkin for $2.00

8/22/2008 10:02:10 PM

San Jose garysand@pacbell.net

these pumpkins are not ideal for pies etc, make yourself a worm composting bin or just a compost pile and put back to your garden next year

8/22/2008 11:22:50 PM

Long Island,New York

We made pies out of a squash two years ago just because we were tired of not having a true/real/proven answer when everyone asked if you made pies out of the giant pkns when you were done. It tasted great and you couldn't tell the difference between the giant squash pie and a can of Libby's when all was said and done. I think the two people that ever tried this (probably back in 1984 !) have done very well in spreading the wives tale. Sure, there's probably better pumpkins for pie making just like theres better apples for eating vs apples for baking....but properly seasoned, sweetened (wasn't overly neccessary when we did it), and most importantly properly ripened...it worked for us. (Perhaps someone had one split before maturity and tried to make pies on an unripe fruit?--remember, we use a calendar date for harvest...not fruit ripening.)
Go ahead>>pay 3x as much for the organic if you want, just seems silly to me if you do when if you use proper pesticides labelled for pumpkins/squash that have been tested and deemed safe. Seems to me you'll be paying 3x as much for a farmer to not do anything....
Besides...all winter long you're eating vegetables from south america and america that have used way worse stuff than you'll ever use in your pumpkins...I believe they still use DDT in S America too.....

8/23/2008 8:21:39 AM

Annapolis Valley Nova Scotia

Glenn has a good point, better to eat what you know than what you don't know.

8/24/2008 5:56:03 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

If you sprayed Talstar and/or Merit for SVB's I'm told it makes the pumpkin inedible. I know that anything I have to put vapor respirator on for, I don't want to try to eat what it was sprayed on afterwards.

Me, I'm lazy, for under $5 I can usually BUY a ready to eat pumpkin pie :)

8/29/2008 9:57:30 AM