Backyard Business: Pumpkin Arrangements for the Win!

This fall we've been blessed with a longer than average amount of growing days without frost--which means I'm able to extend my season and have a pumpkin arrangement sale with my own cut flowers.
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[@carriem7832]

As a floral arranger in a shop I used wet oasis to hold water and my flower stems…and now I use it in the bottom of my potted plants to keep the roots moist and helps with them not wilting so fast. My own pumpkins I spray the inside and out with outdoor flat poly to keep the bugs from chewing on them and the fruit flies….also I elevate the pumpkins up a little with stones or small square blocks of wood so it has air flow under them keeping the bottom drier. …works for me.

[@ShiftingRoots]

These are fantastic tips, thank you soooo much!

[@elizabethmoors1987]

You could use small cuts of oasis foam in the pumpkins, keeps the flowers in place and hydrated too 😊

[@Justdessertsforme]

You are very creative...love them all 🌻

[@EmsPlantPlaceEmmaLeeFreistadt]

Oh my goodness those are sooooo cute!!!

[@michellelafontaine9556]

Your pumpkins are lovely. I line my mini pumpkins with a small sandwich bag with its upper zipper closure removed and I usually add oasis foam to keep the flowers fresher for a longer period of time. I try to ensure that there is very little moisture actually touching the pumpkin - drying them well after washing helps preserve them for a bit longer too.

[@tackmupstables]

Do you have pics of yours?

[@NYNC88]

You know what you're doing, unlike the creator of this video.

[@Tina-g5m]

I put Floral "Foil Look" wrap pumpkin. Add a little water and floral preservative then insert flowers. It also helps to rinse the pumpkin cavity with a solution on floral preservative to lengthen the freshness of the pumpkin. What's neat with the "Foil Look" wrap is when you trim (always over cut the size you think you'll need before poking it into the pumpkin cavity) around under the edges of the flowers. Looks like a ruffle to give it some more flare and increases sales!

[@whatnow8362]

You could use those condiment containers restaurants use. They sell them at dollar stores.

[@gardengirl7446]

Pumpkin 🎃 arrangements are adorable...as are you 👸!

[@ShiftingRoots]

Aww, you’re so sweet!

[@ElderandOakFarm]

You did a great job! Those are gorgeous!

[@yong316yb]

I think small votive candle holders will be good. If they fit in to the pumpkins.

[@artistinagarden]

So cute! I love the way the mini pumpkin arrangements turned out!

[@sandraengstrand2784]

What a fun idea!!! Super inspirational and so original!!!

[@cynthiagustafson2541]

I love these mini pumpkin arrangements!! I wish I had known about these sooner! My daughter is getting married in early Oct. and these would be perfect for all of the tables at the reception!!

[@kathleenenglish3501]

You could use a flower foam. One would go along.

[@paulamiller3878]

I've made pumpkin arrangements for years and I never wash my pumpkins, I spray the insides with Pam and I use a plastic bag as a liner and add flower food to my water. I never put water straight into the pumpkin cavity. I've had arrangements last for two weeks and more with just having to pop out spent flowers here and there. These are tricks I learned from a professional florist.

[@ShiftingRoots]

Amazing! How does the bag stay up? Do you poke it in with toothpicks?

[@NYNC88]

I'm surprised that she would just put water in the pumpkin. I'm sure you could give her a lot of good tips, including how to do attractive flower arrangements.

[@Flanuora]

You could try the tiny containers they use for sending dips home from restaurants in the mini pumpkins. I buy 2oz containers from Target.

[@mgonzalez8991]

Beautiful arrangements, maybe you can line the small pumpkins with plastic wrap to help. 🌷🏵️🌻🍁

[@ourcozygarden]

These look really great! Thank you for reminding us prairie gardeners how much you can grow in our short growing season.

[@ShiftingRoots]

You’re welcome!

[@rv5723]

Beautiful! I never thought of using mini pumpkins this way!

[@dc0145a]

Great idea 💡 those mini pumpkins so cute 😍

[@ShiftingRoots]

Thank you!

[@cherylbootsveld1620]

Dixie cups for the inside of the mini pumpkins…trim down if needed. Yours look so cute.👍👍👍

[@radmilamiljanic5977]

Hi! You might consider using thin plastic cups, single use ones, they are thin and bendable, you can cut them to any size you want with scissors or craft knife, they're usually narrow at the bottom and easy to fit in. Great idea pumpkin bouquets, bravissima:)))

[@ShiftingRoots]

Thank you, it sounds silly, but I never thought of cutting them to size, but of course that would work!

[@radmilamiljanic5977]

@@ShiftingRoots Surely works, used them in many crafts projects, you might even put a tiny piece of floral foam, makes the bouquets more durable and stable. Can fit any pumpkin:)))

[@cheyennedesmet5386]

In the mini pumpkins you can use clear plastic shot glasses from any bargain or big box store. Very inexpensive and great for little projects.

[@ShiftingRoots]

great idea!

[@anazajec41]

Beautiful arrangements! 😍 Maybe you could try to put those metal holders from tealight candles into the mini pumpkins 😊

[@radmilamiljanic5977]

Also, if I may suggest, put statice and other flowers that dry well aside, and you can spread the season deeper into the fall.

[@ShiftingRoots]

True! I really was not on the dried flowers bandwagon when I placed my seed order this spring. I wish I had planted 3 times more statice so I could save some.

[@CottageGardensonForest]

Condiment cups might fit in some minis and definitely the liquid medicine measuring cups for the smallest one or maybe even the Dixie paper disposable mouthwash cups or disposable plastic shot glass cups. I like to use glass baby jars in the slightly larger small pumpkins.

[@ShiftingRoots]

These are really good ideas!

[@gardeningperth]

Love it. Thank you for sharing!

[@noragoss5857]

Love your videos. You are so cute! The mini pumpkins I will try. Thanks for the ideas. Nan

[@ShiftingRoots]

Thanks so much, I hope they turn out for you!

[@brankenflowery8416]

would stay fresh food seasoning maybe would help them not get so nasty. Idk. I think I’ll try that next year.

[@donnabauerofbrilliancebyde1178]

If ya want the flowers and pumps to last as long as possible....let the pumps sit in diluted bleach water over night and use plastic solo cups cut down for the flowers.

[@AlexAlex-gj4jd]

I love your channel and content so far! Amazing! Two thoughts, first, I wonder if you are undervaluing your time by pricing the pumpkin arrangements at 3/$15 and secondly, I think saying, "hi youtube" is too impersonal As a viewer I feel like we are almost becoming friends so even saying, "hi everyone" or something else would be more welcoming. Thanks again and I look forward to the next vlog!

[@jeannet9592]

Do you add any sort of treatment/perservative to the water, or coat the pumpkins with anything? How long to the pumpkins last before they start to decay and are no longer usable. Thank you!

[@jeannet9592]

Never mind! You answered my question after I continued watching!

[@adz5bneweng589]

M8ni pumpkins: votive holders for inside?

[@nikkiholton6318]

What was the green filter. The 2nd thing you placed in the mini pumpkin. They look amazing. Super super cute!!!

[@idzneha]

I think those are carrot leaves.

[@ilenehales7849]

Carrot tops . They work and last great as a green filler.

[@cyndicunanan400]

We were out at a market garden today and noticed all their pumpkin plants had froze but their flowers were untouched.

[@ilenehales7849]

Check the dollar store for tiny silver cups, I don't remember what they are called.

[@kimferraiuolo4837]

Pricing.. the small white ones are 3 for $15? Then how much are the orange ones they seem bigger 🤔 Beautiful 😍

[@ShiftingRoots]

If they’re the size in the thumbnail, I think those were $15 each? I can’t remember. But I’m definitely rethinking my pricing and how I run my sale this year.

[@kimferraiuolo4837]

Are you think of charging more then? I hate pricing my things

[@ShiftingRoots]

@@kimferraiuolo4837 a bit more, but not a crazy increase.

[@sandraengstrand2784]

For the mini pumpkins, what about using small drink cups…?

[@ShiftingRoots]

Are you thinking something like those disposable shot glasses?

[@kristasclass]

Agree! Helps the flowers and pumpkin last longer because the water doesn't get as murky quick!

[@sandraengstrand2784]

Yes, or the wine-size ones 🎃

[@EcceNaturae]

Interesting arrangements, unfortunately not so popular in Poland

[@highlandwildernessstablean3831]

I think you are smart to leave the contrainers out of the mini pumpkins. Given the price of an insert, there would be a time vs profit issue wouldn't there? I just wanted to let you know something about the butternuts. You can eat a butternut at any stage! We are zone 4a so always get one or two big ones and a bunch of minis like the one you held! I do a quick pickle and put them in the fridge. They keep for three months! They are especially delicious that way! Also most squashes (especially butternut) have pollination issues. If you pollinate by hand any chance you get (which won't be much with children lol) you'll get a bumper crop off each vine. I got 17 full size squashes off three vines last year! (And toms of pickles) It's not hard to do! Essential reproduction services for colder zones lol. Also your green ones will eventually color up if you leave them outside in the sun. They tend to taste yucky until about a month or two into storage when they fully color inside. I had no idea and wondered why mine were bland and suddenly in January tasted awesome lol Love your channel! Love how you just roll with it when things go south. Great lessons in patience for us all. You really do have a great channel. Very helpful tips for this first year flower Farmer, too. ♥️🇨🇦

[@ShiftingRoots]

I have to agree with you about the insert, as long as the pumpkin doesn’t deteriorate too fast, just water might be better. And thank you for the butternut squash tips!! I will try to hand pollinate next year, 17 squash sounds worth the extras effort!!

[@lindamohr5767]

2oz portion cups

[@kcoulic]

Use Dixie cups

[@nikkiholton6318]

Maybe a medicine cup?? Not even sure where to get them .

[@sadiekenyon4743]

Your squash/pumpkins didn't get hit frost... you either have squash vine bores, or a pretty decent amount of squash bugs that were feasting on plants.

[@EvelynM-vlogs]

Don't spray them, too toxic, but maybe line them with a square of shrink wrap or something?

[@nikkiholton6318]

Filler. Not filter