Pumpkin Thief

[Florence Fennel]

You must have felt devastated HM, so sorry to hear this.

[binley100]

Thats dreadful, It's like your plot has been violated

[Jeanied]

One year we were all talking of setting booby traps under the pumpkins on our plots!
I think the only solution would be to harvest a couple of weeks beforehand, HM.
Just as they are appearing in the shops.
At least there is one yob out there who knows how a pumpkin grows now.
Now I wonder who nicked all my eating apples?

[hailtryfan]

Some people on our allotments had their pumpkins stolen and smashed up by kids over a month ago. Their plot is right next to the park where the kids hang out and they often get trouble.

As soon as I heard my wife and I harvested our pumpkins and they've been sitting on the balcony ever since.

It seems giant orange fruits are too much of a tempting target for kiddies

[SMT]

Sorry to hear your loss. I grew a couple of big pumpkins this year on the allotemtn and decided to harvest a little earlier because I assumed it would just get knicked if it got too close to Halloween. I guess when the pumpkins run out at the shops then people raid the allotments. Terrible shame. I think the idea of trying to disguise it is a good idea.

[Two_Sheds]

I think the idea of trying to disguise it is a good idea.

Or put up a fake beehive with a big warning "Bees will SWARM if disturbed"

[Polly Fouracre]

What a mean thing to do. I hope they trip over it and break their rotten neck!

[Bigmallly]

It wasn't me missus, honest, I don't even like pumpkin...............sorry for your loss though after all the hard work you put in. Ball & chain next year.

[shirlthegirl43]

got chickens in the garden so nothing grows thanks to the girlies

If you let the plants get quite strong the chooks won't bother them as they are so jaggy

[snohare]

This is why the Scots use turnips ! (Harder to spot from a distance, still edible and carvable, and smell gorgeous with a burning candle.)

A proud sign mentioning that "these prize winning plants are watered using urine" might help discourage future raids ?
Failing that, do you know anyone on the Vine who has access to landmines ?

[SMT]

Failing that, do you know anyone on the Vine who has access to landmines ?

Or build a bear trap! Don't agree with the use on animals but a pumpkin thief is more suitable target.

[Two_Sheds]

This is why the Scots use turnips !

Ah. Swede, or turnips?

[Bigmallly]

A proud sign mentioning that "these prize winning plants are watered using urine" might help discourage future raids ?

I love it.........

[Polly Fouracre]

[QUOTE=snohare;764457] This is why the Scots use turnips ! (Harder to spot from a distance, still edible and carvable, and smell gorgeous with a burning candle.)

We used to use manolds, but always on bonfire night, we hadn't heard of Hallowe'n back then.

[snohare]

Swede, or turnips?

Ah, spot the Radio 2 listener !
Turnips. They are much less common now, especially at the size needed for lanterns (no, Purple Top Milan will not do) but they are tastier (you can eat wee bitties as you carve, wouldn't do that with a swede) and of course if they are stolen - they will turnip !
(Sorry. I'll get my coat.)